The ventral horn is part of which matter in the spinal cord cross-section?

The ventral horn is part of which matter in the spinal cord cross-section?

• A. White matter
• B. Central canal
• C. Grey matter
• D. Dorsal root ganglion

Answer: (C)

The ventral horn is part of grey matter. In a spinal cord cross-section, grey matter sits at the core in an H-shaped region that contains neuron cell bodies and synapses. The ventral (anterior) horn specifically houses motor neuron cell bodies whose axons exit through the ventral roots to innervate skeletal muscles. That’s why this region is grey matter—the color reflects the cellular components rather than myelinated tracts. White matter, by contrast, is the surrounding area filled with myelinated axons that carry signals up and down the spinal cord. The central canal is a CSF-filled space within the cord, and the dorsal root ganglion is located outside the spinal cord on the dorsal root, containing sensory neuron cell bodies, not part of the spinal cord’s grey matter.

The ventral horn is part of grey matter. In a spinal cord cross-section, grey matter sits at the core in an H-shaped region that contains neuron cell bodies and synapses. The ventral (anterior) horn specifically houses motor neuron cell bodies whose axons exit through the ventral roots to innervate skeletal muscles. That’s why this region is grey matter—the color reflects the cellular components rather than myelinated tracts. White matter, by contrast, is the surrounding area filled with myelinated axons that carry signals up and down the spinal cord. The central canal is a CSF-filled space within the cord, and the dorsal root ganglion is located outside the spinal cord on the dorsal root, containing sensory neuron cell bodies, not part of the spinal cord’s grey matter.