Spinal cord

High school (ages 12+)
Human Body

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/spinal-cord

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the gray matter structure?Composed of dorsal horns (sensory), ventral horns (motor), and intermediate gray matter
2. How long is the spinal cord in adults?In adult men it is about 45 centimeters (18 inches) long, and in adult women it is about 42 centimeters (17 inches) long.
3. How does the spinal cord help us move and feel?It sends motor commands from the brain to muscles so we can move, and it carries sensory information like touch and pain back to the brain for us to feel.

Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF): A clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, providing cushioning and nutrient transport.
Ascending Tracts: Bundles of nerve fibers in the white matter that carry sensory information towards the brain.
Descending Tracts: Bundles of nerve fibers in the white matter that carry motor commands away from the brain.