spinal cord

Neuroscience
Student’s Name
Institution’s Affiliation
What is the function of the spinal cord?
Spinal cord facilitates bidirectional communication with the brain, where it collects information regarding pain and touch from the peripheral nervous system to the brain (Lundy-Ekman, & Siengsukon, 2013). On the other hand, the spinal cord also collects and transmits the motor information from the brain to the other effectors in the body. In so doing, the spinal cord ensures the wholeness of the individuals’ lives as it is responsible for a variety of the body processes, including decreasing the intensity of the pain.
Please give a sample of how a client with a C2 SCI may look like
Any spinal cord injury at either C1, C2 or both, is life-threatening. Individuals who survive such injuries, often suffer a complete paralysis below the affected area or never survive. C2 includes the atlas bone, which allows the head to turn. An individual who sustains C2 SC1 may exhibit the following symptom: Unable to turn the neck, unable to hold a conversation and complete paralysis of the limbs (Score You Smile, 2015). Additionally, the individual may experience a whole body paralysis below the affected region and will be unable to breathe without the support of a ventilator.
How may a client with a C7 injury present?
Injuries affecting C7 usually influence everything below the rib cage, resulting in quadriplegia condition. An injury at C7 is as severe as an injury affecting the upper parts of the spinal cord, and may be fatal too (Lundy-Ekman, & Siengsukon, 2013).

A person suffering from a C7 injury may present the following conditions: Inability to control the bowel, urine, and sharp pain in the shoulders. The pain may also extend to the back of arms, and the person will be unable to control the shoulders, hands, and fingers.
C5 is a significant level of function in a client with SCI, do you know why this is?
The fifth cervical vertebrae (C5) is crucial in determining the consequences of the spinal injury. The respirations cords are located between C3 and C5. Therefore, if SCI is at C5 or above, the injury is not fatal, since the injured person will breathe normally. On the other hand, if an injury is below C5, the affected person will suffer from paraplegia. As such, C5 is significant in determining the outcome of a spinal injury.
ReferencesLundy-Ekman, L., & Siengsukon, C. (2013). Neuroscience: Fundamentals for rehabilitation. St. Louis, Mo: Elsevier
Score You Smile (2015). “Spinal Pathways made super easy.” Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VN39m1YWeng