SPINAL CORD – 2
The gray matter of the spinal cord stains more intensely than the white matter because it contains numerous neuronal and glial cell bodies.
The central canal, also called the ependymal canal, is located in the center of the gray matter. In vivo, it contains cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
The white matter consists mainly of nerve fibers, particularly axons, that run predominantly longitudinally along the length of the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is covered by three layers of meninges. During the dissection of organs of the central nervous system the meninges often stay attached to the bone surfaces that surrounded them (skull bones, vertebrae).
The spinal cord gray matter stains stronger than the white matter because it contains a large number of neuronal and glial cell bodies.
The central or ependymal canal, filled in vivo with cerebro-spinal liquid is seen in the center of the gray matter. The white matter contains mostly nerve fibers disposed longitudinally along the spinal cord
The spinal cord is an elongated part of the central nervous system that extends from the brain and is housed within the vertebral canal.
A cross section of the spinal cord reveals a characteristic arrangement of gray matter and white matter that differs from that of the brain and cerebellum. In the spinal cord, the white matter occupies the peripheral region, whereas the gray matter is located centrally.
The gray matter has a characteristic butterfly- or H-shaped appearance, which makes cross sections of the spinal cord relatively easy to recognize.
The spinal cord is an important pathway for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. Bundles of axons, located mainly in the white matter, carry nerve impulses between the spinal cord and the brain.
The gray matter contains numerous motor neurons and interneurons. Motor neurons transmit signals to target structures, such as skeletal muscles, and thereby control their activity. Interneurons connect neurons within the spinal cord and participate in the processing and integration of incoming and outgoing signals.
