The spinal column — also known as the spine or backbone — protects the delicate nerve tissue of the spinal cord.
Both falling out of alignment and breaks can injure the spinal cord. Injuries can range from a bruised spinal cord or, in a worst-case scenario, a crushed and interrupted spinal cord.
The spinal cord is composed of many nerve fibers that run from the base of the brain to the small of the back. It is the most important way for the brain to communicate with the rest of the body.
Spinal nerves:
The spinal cord runs within the spinal canal.
As part of the largest rehabilitation network in western Pennsylvania, the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute offers specialized inpatient and transitional care for a variety of conditions, including: