spinal cord: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical/Scientific, Medical, General (when used figuratively)
Quick answer
What does “spinal cord” mean?
The long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brainstem down through the spinal column, transmitting neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brainstem down through the spinal column, transmitting neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Used figuratively to refer to a central, vital, or indispensable element that provides essential communication or coordination within a system.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or grammatical differences. Spelling remains consistent.
Connotations
Identical technical and figurative connotations in both dialects.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American English due to greater prevalence of related public health discussions (e.g., spinal cord injuries).
Grammar
How to Use “spinal cord” in a Sentence
sustain an injury to the spinal cordundergo spinal cord surgeryhave one's spinal cord damagedVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spinal cord” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The spinal-cord research unit published its findings.
- He required spinal-cord monitoring during the operation.
American English
- The spinal-cord research center published its findings.
- He required spinal-cord monitoring during the surgery.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Figuratively: 'The new server is the spinal cord of our entire network.'
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and neuroscience contexts. 'The study focused on neural regeneration in the spinal cord.'
Everyday
Common in discussions of health, accidents, or paralysis. 'The crash resulted in a spinal cord injury.'
Technical
The primary, precise term in anatomy and neurology. 'The dorsal horns of the spinal cord receive sensory input.'
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spinal cord”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “spinal cord”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spinal cord”
- Incorrect article use: 'He damaged *his spinal cord' is correct; 'He damaged *spinal cord' is incorrect.
- Pluralisation: 'spinal cords' is only correct when referring to multiple specimens, not one person's anatomy.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The spine (or vertebral column) is the bony structure. The spinal cord is the soft bundle of nerve tissue that runs through a canal inside the spine.
The central nervous system, including the spinal cord, has very limited regenerative capacity. Severe damage is often permanent, but medical research is actively seeking treatments.
It is a two-word compound noun, typically written with a space. It is sometimes hyphenated when used as a compound adjective (e.g., spinal-cord injury).
Its primary functions are to transmit motor commands from the brain to the body, relay sensory information from the body to the brain, and coordinate certain reflexes independently.
The long, thin, tubular bundle of nervous tissue and support cells that extends from the brainstem down through the spinal column, transmitting neural signals between the brain and the rest of the body.
Spinal cord is usually technical/scientific, medical, general (when used figuratively) in register.
Spinal cord: in British English it is pronounced /ˌspaɪnl ˈkɔːd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌspaɪnl ˈkɔːrd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the SPINE (the bony column) and a CORD (a rope or cable). The spinal cord is the 'information cable' running through the spine.
Conceptual Metaphor
CENTRAL COMMUNICATION HIGHWAY; INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY (for neural signals).
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, calling something the 'spinal cord' of an organisation implies it is: