Spinal cord

The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that go to and from the brain. It is enclosed in and protected by the bony vertebral column. The main function of the spinal cord is transmission of neural inputs between the periphery and the brain.

 Spinal cord segments 
Humans have 31 left-right pairs of spinal nerves, each roughly corresponding to a segment of the vertebral column. The spinal nerve emerges from the spinal column through an opening between adjacent vertebrae. Outside the vertebral column, the nerve divides into branches.

The nerves for incoming sensory information are bundled separately from nerves for outgoing motor instructions for muscles. The system serves the autonomic nervous system as well as the motor activities which we control consciously.

 Additional images 

 Other websites 

 Spinal Cord Histology  - A multitude of great Images from the University of Cincinnati
 Spinal Cord Medical Notes  - Online medical notes on the Spinal Cord
 eMedicine: Spinal Cord, Topographical and Functional Anatomy
 WebMD. May 17, 2005. Spina Bifida - Topic Overview  Information about Spina Bifida in fetuses and throughout adulthood. WebMD children's health. Retrieved March 19, 2007.
 Spinal cord -Citizendium

Category:Anatomy of the nervous system
Category:Back (anatomy)