the cervical nerves. These nerves control facial muscles, eye movement, and most importantly breathing among other functions.When a child is shaken back and forth the cervical vertebrae are snapped and compressed against each other in rapid succession. During this action the intervertebral disc is compressed and sometimes crushed by the force of the vertebra pressing against it. When the disc is destroyed the vertebrae themselves absorb the impact. When vertebrae make contact in this manner there is a high probability that they will chip allowing bone fragments to penetrate the spinal column. Bleeding, or fluid accumulation and swelling, can occur within the spinal cord or outside the spinal cord but within the spine. The accumulation of blood or fluid can compress the spinal cord and damage it. When the spinal cord is damaged above the fifth cervical vertebrae all nervous functions below the injury site are effectively halted. The ventral and dorsal roots that control the reflexive action for breathing are located in this region.A retinal hemorrhage is the last type of injury related to shaken baby syndrome that will be discussed. This type of trauma is minor compared to the others discussed. If the child survives the other injuries this particular one will present its own host of problems later on in life. The retinal hemorrhage is caused when the head is jerked backwards after reaching full extension in a forward motion.When the head begins its movement back, following the laws of physics the eyeball tends to continue in a forward motion. A childs muscle control of the eyeball is not as strong as an adults so the muscles can not keep the eyeball in place. The jerking motion tugs the optic nerve taut stressing the nerve and the blood vessels contained within it. The nerve may tear or separate under the stress, but more often the blood vessels within the nerve are torn. When torn they will bleed into the retina and the...
