2.6: Activity 4

Integrated Human Anatomy and Physiology Lab Manual II: Neural and Cardiopulmonary Systems · LibreTexts

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    Identifying Anatomical Features in a Cross Section of the Spinal Cord

    The objective of this lab activity is to accurately identify and understand the anatomical features of a spinal cord cross section (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)), which are marked by letters A through M. This exercise will enhance students' knowledge of spinal cord anatomy and improve their ability to recognize and describe key structures and their functions.

    Instructions

    • Review resources to familiarize yourself with the general layout and organization of the spinal cord in cross section.
    • Examine the cross section carefully, noting the location and orientation of each labeled feature.
    • Identify the anatomical structures corresponding to each letter (A through M). Refer to the key provided in the Table \(\PageIndex{1}\).
    Spinal cord cross-section with labeled nerves and vertebrae.
    Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): Cross-sectional diagram of the spinal cord with labeled anatomical structures.Key labels include: vertebral body, spinal nerve, dorsal root ganglion, dorsal and ventral roots, gray and white matter of the spinal cord, pia mater, arachnoid mater, dura mater, epidural space with fat and venous plexus, and vertebral processes (spinous and transverse). The diagram uses color coding to distinguish structures, aiding in understanding spinal anatomy and protective layers. (CC BY-SA 3.0; via Wikimedia Commons).

     Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) is a simplified cross-sectional diagram through the vertebral canal. It shows the spinal cord in the center, several layered coverings/spaces around it, and a spinal nerve pathway extending laterally and branching.

    • Central spinal cord cross-section: A small central structure with a butterfly-shaped gray matter region surrounded by white matter.
    • Surrounding layers: Multiple concentric bands around the spinal cord representing protective coverings and spaces within the vertebral canal.
    • Lateral nerve pathway: A thick nerve structure extends away from the spinal cord region and then divides into branches.
    • Vertebral anatomy context: Large surrounding shapes represent the bony vertebral canal region around the cord.
    Table \(\PageIndex{1}\): Letter key for identifying anatomical features of the spinal cord.
    Key Anatomical features of spinal cord Identifying Letters
    Arachnoid mater  
    Body of vertebral bone  
    Spinous process of vertebral bone  
    Denticulate ligament  
    Dorsal root ganglion  
    Dorsal ramus  
    Dorsal white mater  
    Spinal nerve  
    Dura mater  
    Subarachnoid space  
    Ventral ramus  
    Pia Mater  
    Epidural space  

    This page titled 2.6: Activity 4 was last modified on Fri, 03 Apr 2026 19:29:36 GMT and is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lakshmikanta Sengupta and Susmita Sengupta.