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Spinal Cord

Spinal Cord

The spinal cord, a critical component of the central nervous system, extends from the base of the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. It is essential for maintaining physical stability and facilitating communication between the brain and peripheral parts of the body.

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Indirect Motor Pathways

Indirect Motor Pathways

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Brainstem

Brainstem

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The Midbrain
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Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
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Spinal Nerves: Plexus II

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

Zebrafish In Situ Spinal Cord Preparation for Electrophysiological Recordings from Spinal Sensory and Motor Neurons

Published on: April 18, 2017

Multifunctional and specialized spinal interneurons for turtle limb movements.

Ari Berkowitz¹

¹Department of Zoology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, USA. ari@ou.edu

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

|June 12, 2010

Summary

Turtle spinal cord research reveals how central nervous system (CNS) circuits control limb movements. Both multifunctional and specialized spinal interneurons are key to generating distinct motor patterns like scratching and swimming.

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Published on: June 2, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Comparative Biology
Motor Control

Background:

Vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) circuits are crucial for generating complex limb movements.
Understanding spinal interneuron function is vital for deciphering motor pattern generation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the roles of multifunctional and specialized spinal interneurons in the turtle CNS.
To correlate interneuron structure with specific motor functions, including scratching, swimming, and flexion reflexes.

Main Methods:

Analysis of spinal interneuron activity and morphology in turtles during different motor tasks.
Identification of structure-function relationships in specialized interneurons.

Main Results:

Multifunctional interneurons contribute to various motor outputs, with projections to the ventral horn.
Specialized interneurons exhibit behavior-specific activity patterns (e.g., hyperpolarization during non-target behaviors).
Distinct anatomical locations (dorsal vs. ventral horn) and morphological features correlate with specific interneuron functions.

Conclusions:

Spinal interneurons are differentially specialized for distinct behaviors like scratching and flexion reflexes.
Interneuron morphology, including firing rates and action potential characteristics, is linked to specific motor control functions.
Future research will explore the synergistic interactions between different interneuron populations in generating motor output.