spinal cord

spinal cord definition - medical

spinal cord

noun
The thick, whitish cord of nerve tissue that extends from the medulla oblongata down through the spinal column and from which the spinal nerves branch off to various parts of the body. Also called spinal marrow.

(click for a larger image)

spinal cord

Left: cross section of vertebral column showing the spinal cord within the column

Right: segment of spinal cord with nerve fibers arising from it

The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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