Description of spinal cord

Question

Give a brief description of spinal cord? Of which elements is the spinal cord comprised?

Answer 1

The spinal cord is dorsal neural cord of the vertebrates. It is the element of central nervous system which continues in the trunk to facilitate the nervous integration of entire body.

Spinal cord is made of groups of the neurons located in its central portion forming gray matter and of the axon fibers in its exterior portion forming white matter. Neural bundles connect to both lateral sides of spinal cord segments to form dorsal and ventral spinal roots which join to form spinal nerves. Dorsal spinal roots present a ganglion with neurons which get sensory information; ventral spinal roots have motor fibers. Thus the dorsal roots are sensory roots and ventral roots are motor roots.