spinal cord

noun

Synonyms of spinal cordnext
: the cord of nervous tissue that extends from the brain lengthwise along the back in the spinal canal, gives off the pairs of spinal nerves, carries impulses to and from the brain, and serves as a center for initiating and coordinating many reflex acts see brain illustration

Examples of spinal cord in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Doctors at Providence Mission Hospital said Josh broke two vertebrae and badly damaged his spinal cord. — Erin Clack, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026 The crash broke more than a dozen ribs, punctured her lungs and left her with spinal cord injuries that left her in a wheelchair. — Joshua Goodman, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026 Low-grade astrocytomas are more common in children, while high-grade astrocytomas, such as glioblastoma, tend to grow and spread within the brain and spinal cord quickly and are more common in adults. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 Meningitis is an infection and swelling of the fluid and membranes around the brain and spinal cord, according to the Mayo Clinic. — Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spinal cord

Word History

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinal cord was in 1834

Rhymes for spinal cord

See All Rhymes for spinal cord

Browse Nearby Words

spinal column
spinal cord
spinal foramen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Spinal cord.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal%20cord. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

spinal cord

noun
: the cord of nervous tissue that extends from the brain along the back in the cavity of the backbone, branches to form the spinal nerves, carries nerve impulses to and from the brain, and helps to control reflex actions

Medical Definition

spinal cord

noun
: the thick longitudinal cord of nervous tissue that in vertebrates extends along the back dorsal to the bodies of the vertebrae and is enclosed in the spinal canal formed by their neural arches, is continuous anteriorly with the medulla oblongata, gives off at intervals pairs of spinal nerves to the various parts of the trunk and limbs, serves not only as a pathway for nerve impulses to and from the brain but as a center for carrying out and coordinating many reflex actions independently of the brain, and is composed largely of white matter arranged in columns and tracts of longitudinal fibers about a large central core of gray matter somewhat H-shaped in cross section and pierced centrally by a small longitudinal canal continuous with the ventricles of the brain

called also medulla spinalis

More from Merriam-Webster on spinal cord

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for spinal cord

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spinal cord

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