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Spinal Cord

Definition

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nervous tissue that extends from the base of your brain down your back. It carries messages between your brain and body.

Analogy

The spinal cord acts like a superhighway for messages between your brain and body. Just as cars on a highway carry people to their destinations quickly and efficiently, your spinal cord transports signals rapidly to where they need to go.

Related terms

Central Nervous System (CNS): This includes both the brain and spinal cord. It's like government headquarters overseeing all transportation systems in our analogy.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS): This consists of all nerves outside CNS; it sends information back and forth from CNS to rest of body - think local roads connecting with our main highway (spinal cord).

Reflex Arcs: These are automatic responses coordinated within spinal cord without input from brain - similar to automated toll booths on highways that allow traffic flow without manual intervention.