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Robotic Spine Universe

Structures · Spinal cord segments

C1 spinal cord segment

The piece of spinal cord that gives rise to the C1 pair of spinal nerves. Segment names use the spinal cord level system, which does not line up with the vertebrae.

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At a glance

Level system
C1 segment (spinal cord level)
Lies opposite
C1 (vertebral level)Model mapping; varies between people. Frostell et al. 2016; De Leener et al. 2018; Cadotte et al. 2014
Length along the cord
14.2 mmMeasured on one model: the Visible Human male, imaged as a supine cadaver. Not a normal range. De Leener et al. 2018; Frostell et al. 2016
Its nerve
The C1 nerve exits between the occiput and the C1 vertebra, above the C1 vertebra.Betts et al. 2022, §13.4

Cross-section at C1

left ventral hornright ventral hornleft intermediate zoneright intermediate zoneleft dorsal hornright dorsal hornAnteriorPosteriorLR
Regions in this section (text list)
  • left ventral horn
  • right ventral horn
  • left intermediate zone
  • right intermediate zone
  • left dorsal horn
  • right dorsal horn

Grey matter and white-matter tracts at this level. Outline from the PAM50 template and atlas, cut at the segment midpoint. De Leener et al. 2018; Lévy et al. 2015

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What the sources say

“The posterior horn is responsible for sensory processing.” Betts et al. 2022, §13.2
“The anterior horn sends out motor signals to the skeletal muscles.” Betts et al. 2022, §13.2

For learning only. Levels and sizes vary between people; nothing here describes a particular person or gives medical advice. Sources: Betts et al. 2022, §13.2; Frostell et al. 2016; De Leener et al. 2018; Cadotte et al. 2014; Betts et al. 2022, §13.4.