Human Spinal Cord and Spinal Cord Model

Cauda Equina

"horse's tail", a fan of nerve fibers below the spinal cord

Central Canal

The hollow center of an osteon, also known as a Haversian canal. The central canal contains blood vessels, lymphatic vessels, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Bone is laid down around the central canal in concentric rings called lamellae.

Filum Terminale

This structure is made up of pia mater. It anchors the brain and spinal cord to the coccyx

Lateral Column

White matter on either side between the anterior and posterior columns

Spinal Nerves

31 pairs of nerves arising from the spinal cord

Ventral Horn

Anterior side horn shaped anterior columns of the gray matter of the spinal cord

Dorsal Root of Spinal Nerve

Posterior attachment of a spinal nerve to the spinal cord-all sensory neurons relaying information from the receptors to the spinal cord pass to the cord through the dorsal roots of the spinal nerves. The dorsal root of spinal nerves are sensory nerves

Dorsal Root Ganglion

Posterior side group of sensory neuron cell bodies found just posterior to the spinal cord, and part of the peripheral nervous system.

Dorsal Horn

Posterior side horn shaped projection of gray matter within the spinal cord where sensory neurons enter the spinal cord, posterior

Dorsal Column

Posterior side white matter tract on the dorsal side of the spinal cord, carrying touch and proprioceptive axons to the brain stem.

Spinal Cord

cord of nerve tissue that conducts messages between the brain and the peripheral nerves (Inside Dura Mater)

Ventral Column

Anterior side white matter column containing ascending/sensory tracts suchs as ventral spinothalamic and descending/motor tracts, such as anterior corticospinal, medial vestibulospinal, reticulospinal, tectospinal, and medial longitudinal fasciculus

Gray Commissure

Across center of gray matter; contains central canal; an open space continuous with the ventricles of the brain (arises from 4th ventricle)

Ventral Root of Spinal Nerve

Anterior attachment of a spinal nerve to the spinal cord. All motor nerurons emerging from the spinal cord to effectors exit the cord thru the ventral roots of spinal nerves. Ventral roots of spinal nerves are motor nerves

Anterior Median Fissure

Anterior side WIDE deep crease along the ventral surface of the spinal cord

Lateral Horn

Lateral projection of gray matter on the lateral portion of the internal spinal cord. These are only found in the thoracic and lumbar regions of the spinal cord. There is one on the left side and one on the right side

Posterior Median Sulcus

shallow longitudinal groove on the dorsal surface of the spinal cord

Dura mater

thick, outermost layer of the meninges surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord

Conus Medullaris

where the spinal cord tapers to a conical tip, which is at or inferior to the level of the first lumbar vertebrae (L1)