spinal cord

noun

Synonyms of spinal cordnext
: 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 Lumbar puncture: Providers test samples of cerebrospinal fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord for signs of brain infection. —Mark Gurarie, Verywell Health, 16 Aug. 2024 Living with a spinal cord injury takes a lot of thinking outside the box and taking what the world has to offer. —Mason Branstrator, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2024 This fluid circulates through the ventricles of the brain, the central canal of the spinal cord and the subarachnoid space surrounding the brain and spinal cord. —Danielle Wilhour, The Conversation, 14 Aug. 2024 Some symptoms of severe illness include encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, or meningitis, inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord. —Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 26 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for spinal cord 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spinal cord.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinal cord was in 1834

Dictionary Entries Near spinal cord

spinal column

spinal cord

spinal foramen

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Spinal cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal%20cord. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.

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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

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