Spinal Cord Injury Essay -- Biology Essays Research Papers

Spinal Cord InjurySpinal heap injury is a serious problem that effects close to 250,000 citizenry in the United States with 10,000 people being injured per year . on that point are many things that can lead to spinal pile injury, including athletic injuries, car accidents, and recreational activities like swimming and biking. It primarily effects those in the midst of the ages of 16 and 30 and drastically effects the rest of their lives. It is a truly debilitating injury that requires extensive medical care, often leaves the patients in a great deal of pain for the rest of their lives(2), and the treatment of which costs $10 billion dollars a year in the US.(facts from site 1) With all of these factors spine research on there is a strong drive to come on a cure for such a devastating injury.Spinal cord injuries can happen anywhere along the spinal cord, but the submit location of the trauma determines the effects that the injury will have. Injuries in the overturn back, b etween the Sacrum(S1-S5) and Lumbar(L1-L5) vertebrae main(prenominal)ly effect the legs. Breaks in the Thoracic(T1-T12) vertebrae, located in the mall of the back, effect the torso and portions of the arms. While injuries in the spine above the lift blades, the Cervical(C1-C8) vertebrae, effect not only movement in the neck, but functions such as breathing, speaking, and eating. In the past, some functions have been able to be regained by some individuals, but after the initial witnessy period just about people see little improvement over the course of their lives.The main reason for such a poor recovery is that the nerve cells in the spinal cord do not regenerate on their own. erst the spinal cord develops, two things keep it from growing. One of which is an inhibitor protein and the ... ...en very mordant in the past, major hurdles have been overcome and science is without delay working on a way to help people recover from their injuries instead of teaching them how to li ve with them. Web Sites used in this newspaper publisher(1) Welcome to the American Paralysis Association - APACURE.COM http//www.apacure.com/mainfram.html -This site contains a laconic video on axon degeneration and an animated illustrations on the play of death and regeneration in nerve cells.(2) Theories on the Effects of acupuncture on the Nervous System Emma Christensen, deals with concepts of painhttp//serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro98/202s98-paper1/Christensen.html (3) Spinal Cord Injury - - research Highlightshttp//www.nin ds.nih.gov/healinfo/disorder/sci/scispec.htm (4) Spinal Cord Injury Centerhttp//www.med.nyu.edu/clnre s95/spincord.htm