Spinal cord diseases

The spinal cord is the part of the central nervous system included within the spinal column.

Its function is to transmit all motor and sensory information from the extremities. It also contains a series of nerve pathways capable of controlling vegetative functions (e.g. urination, defecation, vascular tone, sweating, sexual function).

The spinal cord can be injured by multiple causes, including trauma, primary and secondary tumors, infectious agents (e.g. syphilis, HIV), deficiency conditions (e.g. vitamin B12 deficiency), autoimmune diseases (e.g. multiple sclerosis, lupus erythematosus), neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. familial spastic paraparesis) and vascular diseases (e.g. vascular malformations and occlusions).

Injuries located in the cervical spinal cord produce symptoms in all four extremities.

Lesions located in the dorsal medulla produce symptoms limited to the legs.