spinal cord

noun

: the cord of nervous tissue that extends from the brain lengthwise along the back in the spinal canal, gives off the pairs of spinal nerves, carries impulses to and from the brain, and serves as a center for initiating and coordinating many reflex acts see brain illustration

Examples of spinal cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Specifically, pregnant women, newborns, adults over age 65 and people with weakened immune systems should watch out for this bug, which can lead to miscarriage, widespread infection, inflammation of the brain and spinal cord lining, muscle pain, and flu-like symptoms. —Mustafa Fattah, NBC News, 17 Oct. 2024

Loss of Balance Loss of balance can be another sign of metastatic breast cancer to the brain or spinal cord. —Julie Scott, Msn, People.com, 2 Oct. 2024

Wong, 50, was born with spinal muscular atrophy, where nerves in the brain and spinal cord break down, causing progressive weakness and atrophy in the muscles. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 2 Oct. 2024

Advertisement In serious cases, the virus can cause inflammation of the brain or spinal cord, leading to permanent neurological damage or death. —Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

spinal cord

noun

: the cord of nervous tissue that extends from the brain along the back in the cavity of the backbone, branches to form the spinal nerves, carries nerve impulses to and from the brain, and helps to control reflex actions

Medical Definition

spinal cord

noun

: the thick longitudinal cord of nervous tissue that in vertebrates extends along the back dorsal to the bodies of the vertebrae and is enclosed in the spinal canal formed by their neural arches, is continuous anteriorly with the medulla oblongata, gives off at intervals pairs of spinal nerves to the various parts of the trunk and limbs, serves not only as a pathway for nerve impulses to and from the brain but as a center for carrying out and coordinating many reflex actions independently of the brain, and is composed largely of white matter arranged in columns and tracts of longitudinal fibers about a large central core of gray matter somewhat H-shaped in cross section and pierced centrally by a small longitudinal canal continuous with the ventricles of the brain

called also medulla spinalis