A long, cylindrical bundle of nerve tissue extending from the brainstem down through the vertebral column, serving as the main pathway for transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. It also processes some reflexes independently of the brain.
From Latin spina meaning 'thorn' or 'backbone' and chorda meaning 'string' or 'cord.' Medieval anatomists used 'spinal' to describe the thorny appearance of the vertebrae, while 'cord' reflects the rope-like appearance of the nerve bundle within.
Your spinal cord is surprisingly short - only about 18 inches long in adults! It doesn't extend the full length of your spine because your backbone grows faster than your spinal cord during development, leaving just nerve roots (called the cauda equina or 'horse's tail') in the lower back.
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