Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves – Physiology (Nursing)

The nervous system, either directly or indirectly, is involved with essentially all bodily functions; breathing, moving, sensing, and the elimination of metabolic products via urine or stool all require nervous system input. The spinal cord and the spinal nerves coming off of the cord are the “delivery drivers” and “message takers” that connect our various physiologic systems.

In this course, you’ll learn the basic spinal cord anatomy as well as the arrangement of the different nerve plexuses and spinal nerves. We’ll discuss reflex arcs and how they keep us safe and how clinicians can test the function of reflexes by tapping certain tendons.