Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a major part of the central nervous system, stretching from the brain and down the backbone. It's responsible for sending messages between the brain and the rest of the body and can be thought of as an information highway. It's made up of several parts including the brain stem and the nerve roots. Damage to the spinal cord can result in paralysis and other health problems, and treatment of spinal cord injuries typically involves physical therapy, electrical stimulation, medications and surgery. Spinal cord research has had tremendous impact in advancing the treatment of people with paralysis due to spinal cord injuries. Much progress has been made in recent decades, which means more efficient treatments and more opportunities to improve the quality of life for people with these conditions.