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Related Concept Videos

Spinal Cord01:26

Spinal Cord

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The spinal cord, a critical component of the central nervous system, extends from the base of the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It is essential for maintaining physical stability and facilitating communication between the brain and peripheral parts of the body.
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The Spinal Cord01:54

The Spinal Cord

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The spinal cord is the body’s major nerve tract of the central nervous system, communicating afferent sensory information from the periphery to the brain and efferent motor information from the brain to the body. The human spinal cord extends from the hole at the base of the skull, or foramen magnum, to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra.
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Spinal Cord: Information Processing01:10

Spinal Cord: Information Processing

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The spinal cord is an integral hub for motor and sensory information that enables the brain to communicate with the peripheral nervous system (PNS). This communication consists of relaying sensory data and transmission of motor commands.
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Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy01:15

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The spinal cord resides within the protective confines of the vertebral column. It is the main pathway for information traveling between the brain and the body. It plays a fundamental role in nearly all bodily functions, from simple reflexes to complex motor movements. The spinal cord begins at the medulla oblongata at the base of the brainstem and extends downward, terminating at the conus medullaris near the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord's length in adults is...
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Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

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The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...
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Tonicity in Animals00:59

Tonicity in Animals

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The tonicity of a solution determines if a cell gains or loses water in that solution. The tonicity depends on the permeability of the cell membrane for different solutes and the concentration of nonpenetrating solutes in the solution within and outside of the cell. If a semipermeable membrane hinders the passage of some solutes but allows water to follow its concentration gradient, water moves from the side with low osmolarity (i.e., less solute) to the side with higher osmolarity (i.e.,...
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Imaging spinal cord activity in behaving animals.

Nicholas A Nelson1, Xiang Wang2, Daniela Cook2

  • 1Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center, Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; Biologial Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.

Experimental Neurology
|June 9, 2019
PubMed
Summary

New imaging techniques allow real-time study of spinal cord activity in behaving mice. This research provides crucial insights into how spinal cord cells process sensory information for motor behaviors, advancing neuroscience.

Keywords:
AstrocyteBehaviorCalcium imagingMiniature microscopeMotor systemMulti-photon microscopeNeuronNociceptionSensory systemSpinal cord

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Cellular Biology
  • Systems Neuroscience

Background:

  • The spinal cord is vital for brain-body communication, yet its cellular functions during natural behaviors are poorly understood.
  • Existing research methods have limitations in capturing real-time neuronal activity patterns.
  • Spinal cord injury and motoneuron diseases highlight the need for deeper understanding of spinal cord function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review advancements in imaging technologies for studying the spinal cord in behaving mammals.
  • To discuss how these methods reveal cellular and microcircuit functions.
  • To explore opportunities and challenges in spinal cord research.

Main Methods:

  • Real-time imaging of cellular activity in the spinal cord of behaving mice.
  • Analysis of sensory information processing from skin receptors (mechanoreceptors and nociceptors).
  • Integration of genetic, electrophysiological, and circuit tracing data.

Main Results:

  • Recent imaging methods enable real-time interrogation of spinal cord cellular activity.
  • New insights into how diverse cell types encode sensory input from the skin.
  • Understanding of moment-to-moment activity patterns underlying sensory-guided motor behaviors.

Conclusions:

  • Advanced imaging has overcome technical barriers in spinal cord research.
  • Current technologies offer new opportunities to study spinal cord function in health and disease.
  • Further technological development is needed to fully elucidate spinal cord microcircuit dynamics.