The spinal cord is a long, cylindrical structure of nervous tissue that runs through the center of the vertebral column. It serves as a major communication pathway, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Surrounding the spinal cord are three protective membranes known as the meninges: the dura mater, arachnoid mater, and pia mater. Within the cord, gray matter forms a butterfly-shaped center responsible for processing information, while white matter carries nerve signals up and down the spinal cord. Spinal nerves branch out through the dorsal and ventral roots, connecting the spinal cord to different parts of the body and enabling movement and sensation.
Source: The Brain Maze
