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Spinal cord

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Illustration showing the human spinal cord, part of the nervous system.

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is a very important part of our bodies. It is like a thin tube made of special tissues. It runs from the bottom part of the brain down through our backbone. This backbone is also called the vertebral column.

The spinal cord helps send messages between the brain and the rest of the body. It tells the body what to do and brings back information from the body to the brain. It also helps us do quick actions, like pulling a hand away from something hot.

In humans, the spinal cord starts at the back of the head and goes down to a point near the lower back. It is protected by layers of tissue and the bony parts of our spine. Inside the spinal cord, there is a small space filled with special fluid that helps keep it healthy.

The spinal cord is made of different parts. In the center, there is grey matter where nerve cells are located. Around the outside, there is white matter that carries signals up and down. The spinal cord is very important for helping us move and feel things.

!Parts of human spinal cord

Images

Anatomy of the spinal cord showing its segments and the conus medullaris.
An educational illustration showing the structure of a spinal cord cross-section, helpful for learning about human anatomy.
Historical anatomical drawing showing detailed human body structures from an early 20th century medical textbook.
An educational diagram showing the structure of a cervical vertebra, part of the spine in the neck region.
A detailed anatomical drawing from a 1908 medical textbook showing parts of the human body.
Detailed anatomical drawing from a classic medical textbook showing parts of the human body.
A detailed diagram showing the human spinal cord viewed from both sides, helping to understand its structure.
Scientific diagram showing a cross-section of the thoracic spinal cord, part of the nervous system.
Illustration of the human nervous system from a classic medical textbook.
Anatomical drawing showing the right side of the spinal cord with nerve roots, from a classic medical textbook.
A detailed anatomical drawing showing parts of the human body from a classic medical textbook.
A detailed scientific drawing showing parts of the human body from an old anatomy book.
An educational anatomical drawing from a classic medical textbook showing detailed human body structures.

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This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Spinal cord, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

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