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

Researchers spent years working with two patients who had suffered spinal cord injuries that left them unable to control their limbs. —Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 16 Jan. 2025

Doctors were also concerned that Manning had suffered a spinal cord injury when his head flew black, snapping his neck, during the impact. —Wendy Grossman Kantor, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025

Mangione suffered from back pain related to misaligned vertebrae that pinched his spinal cord while living in Honolulu during the first six months of 2022, R.J. Martin, the coop's housing space founder, told the Honolulu Civil Beat. —Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 12 Dec. 2024

Mangione lived there for at least six months in 2022, according to former roommate RJ Martin, who told the outlet that Mangione's lower back problems affected him for years due to misaligned vertebrae that could sometimes pinch his spinal cord. —Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 10 Dec. 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