Regional and segmental characteristics of the human adult spinal cord.

Ten human adult spinal cords were assessed for weight, length, thickness, cholesterol, water and DNA-P content on both a regional and a mean segmental regional basis. The mean segmental DNA-P content, unlike the other parameters, was exceptional in being constant in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions. It is concluded that the cellularity of the cord between C1 and L5 is determined segmentally, but is reduced in the segments of the sacrococcygeal cord because of embryonic atrophy.