Anatomy A215 Virtual Microscopy
Spinal Cord
 
 

In the cross section of the spinal cord, look in the anterior horns for a good example of basic cell structure. Here you will see the large motor neurons that connect with muscle cells and cause them to contract. These neurons have large nuclei and well defined cell bodies.

In a SPINAL CORD cross section, examine the large, irregularly shaped motor neuron cell bodies found in each anterior horn.

The round nucleus in these cells is lighter-staining than the cytoplasm; identify also the nucleolus, a spherical dark-staining body within the nucleus. Click here for a larger view of a motor neuron.
 
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