Spinal cord

Definition

The spinal cord is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue that extends from the brainstem down the back and is encased within the vertebral column. It functions as a major conduit for information to travel between the brain and the rest of the body, enabling sensory data to be sent to the brain and motor commands to be dispatched to various body parts.

Related terms

Neurons:

Specialized cells that transmit nerve impulses throughout the nervous system.

Vertebral Column:

A series of interconnected bones (vertebrae) that encase and protect the spinal cord.

Reflex Arc:

A neural pathway that controls an action reflex without conscious brain involvement