To know about spinal injuries, you need to know a little bit about how the central nervous system works. The brain directs the actions and processes of all your body’s systems. It is linked to every function in some way, from the touch you feel on your skin, to how many beats per minute your heart pumps blood. Specialized cells called neurons work to transmit and carry information. Because they work on an electrochemical impulse, communication between these cells is nearly instantaneous, which is why stubbing your toe on a chair results in immediate pain.
The spinal cord is a long, continuous group of nerve cells that serve as a superhighway of transmitting signals to and from the brain. Due to the specialized nature of these cells, however, they are very poor at regenerating if they are damaged. The spinal cord is protected by spinal fluid, tissue, and an articulated system of bones from the base of your brain all the way to your tailbone, which you might know as your spine. Since you need to be able to move and function, the spine has a range of motion, but these joints don’t move as much as an elbow or a hip.