Human Anatomy & Physiology Laboratory OER

 Identify the anatomical features seen in a cross-sectional view of the spinal cord. 

1. Posterior (Dorsal) Horn
2. Lateral Horn
3. Anterior (Ventral) Horn
4. Dorsal Column
5. Lateral Column
6. Anterior Column
7. Central Canal 
8. Gray Commissure
9. Spinal Nerve
10. Ventral Root
11. Dorsal Root
12. Dorsal Root Ganglion
13. Dorsal Ramus
14. Ventral Ramus
15. Posterior Median Sulcus
16. Anterior Median Fissure

• Models
  •  Spinal cord cross-section model
• Videos
  • Spinal cord cross-section model video
• Virtual Lab on McGraw Hill
  • None
• OpenStax Human Anatomy and Physiology textbook
  • Chapter 13.2

1. Posterior (Dorsal) Horn - posterior projection of gray matter of spinal cord; houses bodies of sensory neurons
2. Lateral Horn - lateral projection of gray matter of spinal cord found in the thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions; contains cell bodies of motor neurons of the autonomic nervous system.
3. Anterior (Ventral) Horn - anterior projection of the gray matter of spinal cord; houses bodies of motor neurons. 
4. Dorsal Column - white matter between the two posterior horns of gray matter; houses tracts
5. Lateral Column - the white matter on the lateral sides of the spinal cord, between the posterior horn and the axons of the anterior horn neurons; houses tracts
6. Anterior Column - between the two anterior horns of the gray matter, houses tracts
7. Central Canal - hollow space in the center of the gray matter of the spinal cord; filled with CSF 
8. Gray Commissure - thin strip of gray matter that surrounds the central canal of the spinal cord; connects the right and left sides of gray matter 
9. Spinal Nerve - a nerve connected to the spinal cord; has two nerve roots - the dorsal and ventral 
10. Ventral Root - part of spinal nerve between the spinal cord and intervertebral foramen; on the anterior side of spinal cord; has motor fibers
11. Dorsal Root - part of spinal nerve between the spinal cord and intervertebral foramen; on the posterior side of spinal cord; where sensory axons enter the spinal cord
12. Dorsal Root Ganglion - a thickening on the dorsal root; has bodies of unipolar sensory neurons 
13. Dorsal Ramus - the dorsal branch of the spinal nerve after emerging through the intervertebral foramen; supplies the posterior parts of the trunk
14. Ventral Ramus - the anterior branch of the spinal nerve after emerging through the intervertebral foramen; supplies the antero-lateral parts of the trunk and the limbs; participates in forming the plexus
15. Posterior Median Sulcus - a shallow longitudinal groove on the posterior midline of the spinal cord
16. Anterior Median Fissure - a shallow longitudinal groove on the anterior midline of the spinal cord

Module 13 McGraw Hill Connect APR Cadaver Activity