spinal cord

American  

noun

• spinal cords
  plural

1. the cord of nerve tissue extending through the spinal canal of the spinal column.

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spinal cord British  

noun

1. the thick cord of nerve tissue within the spinal canal, which in man gives rise to 31 pairs of spinal nerves, and together with the brain forms the central nervous system

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spinal cord Scientific  

1. The long, cordlike part of the central nervous system that is enclosed within the vertebral column (spine) and descends from the base of the brain, with which it is continuous. The spinal cord branches to form the nerves that convey motor and sensory impulses to and from the tissues of the body.

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spinal cord Cultural  

1. The thick column of nerve tissue that extends from the base of the brain about two thirds of the way down the backbone. As part of the central nervous system, the spinal cord carries impulses back and forth between the brain and other parts of the body through a network of nerves that extend out from it like branches.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• spinal cords
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of spinal cord

First recorded in 1830–40

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Compare meaning

How does spinal-cord compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• spinal cord vs. spinal column

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

spinal cord

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord.

From BBC ● Oct. 28, 2026

Patients must meet certain criteria for a diagnosis: a combination of clinical symptoms and lesions characteristic of MS that show up on an MRI scan of the brain and spinal cord.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

They examined human brain tissue and cerebrospinal fluid, the clear liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord, using genetic and epigenetic analyses to explore changes in DNA and gene activity.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 19, 2026

He was diagnosed with three large oligodendrogliomas, a rare type of cancer which can affect the brain and spinal cord.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

An MRI scan allows us to look inside a living person's head and see a slice of everything from the throat to the spinal cord.

From "Phineas Gage" by John Fleischman

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