Difference Between Spinal Cord and Backbone: Function, Parts, Segments

What Is The Spinal Cord?

The spinal cord is the part of the central nervous system that goes along from the brainstem to the vertebral column. It offers a pathway of nerve signals between the brain and the rest of the body in such a way that sensory inputs reach the brain and responses in the form of commands reach muscles and organs.

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Anatomically, the spinal cord is cylindrical, surrounded and protected by the vertebrae and their layers of the meninges, which are important for protection. The figure of the spinal cord highlights the segmented anatomy of the cord formed by the grey matter that houses the cell bodies of the nerve cells and the white matter held by the axons of the nerve cells.

The spinal cord also functionally maintains simple and complex reflex actions, a knee-jerk reflex being an excellent example supported by it, while it also mediates autonomic functions, among which bladder control and temperature regulation are excellent examples. These give an essential dimension altogether to the spine insofar as the capabilities of functioning of the nervous system are concerned.

What Is The Backbone?

The backbone is also referred to as the vertebral column or spine, constituting therefore a vital part of the skeletal system in the body that serves as a supportive and protective vault to the spinal cord. Anatomically it consists of a sequence of 33 vertebrae aligned in column fashion, categorically termed cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. Every two vertebrae are separated by an intervertebral disc which can function as a "shock absorber". A backbone extends from the base of the skull to the pelvis, providing structure, flexibility of movement, and maintenance of upright body position.

Segmented nature or structure and curvature in type backbones are skeletal features in a human backbone given in typical form in the diagram below. Functionally, the backbone is responsible for the protection of the spinal cord, supporting the weight and movement of the body, and playing an integral role in the attachment of muscles and ligaments in the body—essentially, a responsible feature in as far as the role of the human skeletal system about the performance of protection and motion is concerned.

Functional Differences Between Spinal Cord And Backbone

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