selkäydän

Selkäydin is the Finnish word for spinal cord. It is a long, tubular structure of nervous tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem down to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The spinal cord is a crucial component of the central nervous system, serving as a conduit for information between the brain and the rest of the body.

The primary functions of the spinal cord are to transmit motor commands from the brain to the muscles, enabling voluntary movement, and to relay sensory information from the body to the brain, allowing us to perceive touch, pain, temperature, and pressure. Additionally, the spinal cord is involved in reflexes, which are involuntary responses to stimuli that occur without direct brain involvement, providing rapid protective mechanisms.

Structurally, the spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae of the spine. It is composed of gray matter, which contains neuron cell bodies, and white matter, which consists of myelinated axons that form nerve tracts. These tracts are organized to carry specific types of information up or down the spinal cord. Damage to the spinal cord can result in significant neurological deficits, including paralysis and loss of sensation, depending on the location and severity of the injury.