BIO 121 CH 14 SPINAL CORD AND
NERVES | ACTUAL 2026 UPDATES |
VERIFIED STUDY | ALREADY
PASSED
,
, lOMoAR cPSD| 61371432
Chapter 14: The Nervous System → The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
Gross Anatomy of the Spinal Cord
What are the anatomical characteristics of the spinal cord? Brain?
• Spinal cord → integrates and processes information, can
function with the brain, can function independently of the brain
o Features of the spinal cord → 45 cm in length, passes
through the foramen magnum, extends from the brain to L1;
consists 31 spinal segments and each segment consists of dorsal
root, dorsal root ganglia, ventral root, spinal nerve; at a
transverse view you’ll see white matter, gray matter, central
canal, anterior median fissure, posterior median sulcus
o The spinal cord consists cervical region, thoracic region,
lumbar region, sacral region, coccygeal region, cervical
enlargement, lumbrosacral enlargement, conus
medullaris, cauda equina, filum terminale (becomes a
component of the coccygeal ligament),
posterior/anterior median sulci
• Brain → integrates and processes information, can function
with the spinal cord, can function independently of the spinal
cord
What are the features of the spinal nerves?
• Classified as mixed nerves
Sensory (afferent) nerves: transmits impulses toward the spinal cord
47a303c169e57ced13fe9865e65ddb3b.docx 1
NERVES | ACTUAL 2026 UPDATES |
VERIFIED STUDY | ALREADY
PASSED
,
, lOMoAR cPSD| 61371432
Chapter 14: The Nervous System → The Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves
Gross Anatomy of the Spinal Cord
What are the anatomical characteristics of the spinal cord? Brain?
• Spinal cord → integrates and processes information, can
function with the brain, can function independently of the brain
o Features of the spinal cord → 45 cm in length, passes
through the foramen magnum, extends from the brain to L1;
consists 31 spinal segments and each segment consists of dorsal
root, dorsal root ganglia, ventral root, spinal nerve; at a
transverse view you’ll see white matter, gray matter, central
canal, anterior median fissure, posterior median sulcus
o The spinal cord consists cervical region, thoracic region,
lumbar region, sacral region, coccygeal region, cervical
enlargement, lumbrosacral enlargement, conus
medullaris, cauda equina, filum terminale (becomes a
component of the coccygeal ligament),
posterior/anterior median sulci
• Brain → integrates and processes information, can function
with the spinal cord, can function independently of the spinal
cord
What are the features of the spinal nerves?
• Classified as mixed nerves
Sensory (afferent) nerves: transmits impulses toward the spinal cord
47a303c169e57ced13fe9865e65ddb3b.docx 1
