Describe the anatomy of the cord and vertebrae as related to fractures, dislocations, and possible cord injury. Due to the relative strength of the ligaments in the region compared to the dens, stress often results in its fracture. The spinal cord can be injured in various ways, all of which are extremely serious and can result in significant impairment of function. Describe or illustrate the location and function of the basic somatic motor and sensory neurons on a cross section of the spinal cord. Sensory neurons originate in the dorsal horns and make up the dorsal roots, but their cell bodies are in the dorsal root ganglia, outside of the spinal cord.
Motor neurons have their cell bodies within the spinal cord, in the ventral horn.
They unite to form the ventral roots. Distal to the dorsal root ganglia, the roots unite, forming the spinal nerve. The nerve quickly splits into two branches, or ventral and dorsal rami, which carry both sensory and motor fibers. Describe a typical spinal nerve, the somatic motor and sensory components found in any portion, and their distribution. These are the first branches off the spinal nerve.