Spinal Cord and Nervous System Anatomy
This page presents a detailed schéma moelle épinière colonne vertébrale (diagram of the spinal cord and vertebral column), focusing on the intricate structure of neurons and the spinal cord. The illustration provides a comprehensive view of the nervous system's components and their interconnections.
The diagram showcases the coupe transversale de la moelle épinière (cross-section of the spinal cord), revealing its internal organization. Key features of the spinal cord's anatomy are labeled, including the dorsal and ventral roots, as well as the gray and white matter.
Vocabulary: The motoneurone (motor neuron) is prominently featured, showing its cell body, dendrites, and axon extending towards muscle fibers.
The illustration also depicts a synapse excitatrice (excitatory synapse), demonstrating how neurons communicate with each other and with muscle cells. This is crucial for understanding the transmission of nerve impulses.
Definition: A synapse is the junction between two nerve cells, where neurotransmitters are released to transmit signals.
The diagram includes details of a nerve fiber, showcasing the myelin sheath and nodes of Ranvier, which are essential for the rapid conduction of nerve impulses along axons.
Highlight: The réflexe myotatique (myotatic reflex) pathway can be traced in this diagram, showing how sensory information from muscles is processed and leads to motor responses.
Various types of neurons are illustrated, including:
- Sensory (afferent) neurons, which carry information from sensory receptors to the central nervous system
- Motor (efferent) neurons, which transmit signals from the central nervous system to muscles or glands
Example: The diagram shows how a motor neuron connects to a muscle fiber at the neuromuscular junction, also known as the motor end plate.
This comprehensive schéma annoté de la moelle épinière (annotated diagram of the spinal cord) serves as an excellent resource for understanding the complex structure and function of the nervous system, particularly focusing on the spinal cord and its associated neurons.
