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

For hunters that may contact an animal potentially infected with CWD, the CDC recommends precautions such as wearing gloves when handling carcasses, properly disposing of remains, and avoiding consumption of high-risk parts like the brain and spinal cord. —Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 5 Nov. 2024

The spinal cord injury led to her being paralyzed and unable to breathe on her own, the lawsuit alleges. —Julia Reinstein, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2024

The film’s central visual conceit imagines Reeve’s Superman, cast in concrete, floating through space, laced with digital effects depictions of what the spinal cord injury has done to his body. —Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 11 Oct. 2024

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

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