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

Etymology

Origin of spinal cord

First recorded in 1830–40

Compare meaning

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

• spinal cord vs. spinal column

Example Sentences

He suffered from a rare neurological condition and, during a post-mortem examination, his brain and part of his spinal cord were removed for further research.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

MND is a rare neurological condition which affects the brain and spinal cord, and can affect a person's ability to talk, walk and breathe.

From BBC • Jun. 14, 2026

The new map of neural connections, known as a connectome, extends a previously published fruit fly brain connectome by adding the fly's spinal cord equivalent, called the nerve cord.

From Science Daily • Jun. 10, 2026

Because the brain and spinal cord are separate but connected structures in the body, the team kept the organoids physically apart in the lab.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

Five people had emerged from the darkness of the Berg, dressed in outfits that sent a chill racing down Mark’s spinal cord.

From "The Kill Order (Maze Runner, Book Four; Origin)" by James Dashner