To study the permanent slide of the cross-section of Spinal Cord

1. Outermost connective tissue layer is called duramater, the middle layer arachnoid
mater while the innermost layer is called piamater.

2. Internally, spinal cord consists of two parts – a peripheral white matter consisting of
myelinated axons and a central gray matter containing neuron cell bodies.

3. The white matter is divided into right and left portion by an anterior fissure and a
posterior sulcus (groove). The two portions are connected by an anterior (ventral)
white commissure.

4. The gray matter is shaped like the letter H or a butterfly. The crossbar of H is formed
by a gray commissure, the center of which has a small space called the central canal
filled with the cerebrospinal fluid.

5. The gray matter on each side of the spinal cord is subdivided into regions called
horns. The posterior (dorsal) gray horns contain cell bodies and axons of sensory
neurons. The anterior (ventral) gray horns contain cell bodies of motor neurons.
The lateral gray horns are present only in the thoracic and upper lumbar segments of
the spinal cord. These contain cell bodies of autonomic motor neurons and regulate
the activity of cardiac muscles, smooth muscles and glands.

6. The white matter on each half is also organised into three broad areas called columns;
anterior (ventral) white columns, posterior (dorsal) white columns and lateral
white columns. Each column contains bundles of axons which may extend
throughout the length of spinal cord, and are called tracts. Ascending tracts conduct
action potential towards the brain while descending tracts conduct action potential
away from the brain.

7. Spinal nerves arise from the dorsal and ventral part of the spinal cord and form dorsal
root and ventral root.

Cross-section of Mammalian Spinal Cord