The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system. It runs down the center of your back and is primarily composed of nerves, which are organized in systematic pathways, also described as tracts.

Spinal cord cancer is not common, but tumors can develop in any region of the spinal cord. Late-stage cancer often metastasizes to the spine and/or spinal cord, causing spinal cord compression.

Spinal Cord Anatomy The spinal cord is a vital part of the central nervous system, along with your brain. It’s around 50 centimeters long, though the length may vary in different individuals.

The spine, or backbone, is a long column of bones that runs down the center of a person’s back. It is essential for many functions, such as movement, support, and protecting the spinal cord.

These are generally discovered during surgery for an injury to the spine, spinal cord, or spinal nerve, or testing done in preparation for such a procedure. A 2017 study evaluating the spinal nerve ...

The spinal cord has three sections that run the length of the spine. Each section's name describes the part of the spine it passes through: cervical (SER-vih-kul), thoracic (theh-RAH-sik), and ...

Dura mater, pia mater and arachnoid mater — three layers of membranes that encase the spinal cord. Spinal cord. Based on the location of the tumor in relation to the spinal cord, spinal tumors are ...

The meninges of the spinal cord also encase the cauda equina, the bundle of nerves and nerve roots at the base of the spine. This includes nerves corresponding to the lumbar (low back) vertebrae ...

Finally, extradural tumors are the most common type of spinal tumor and originate from the bones of the spine or other structures outside of the layers covering the spinal cord. Spinal cord tumors can ...