# Vertebrae and spinal cord cutaway

Three connected native C4–C6 cervical vertebrae and two native intervertebral discs form the example. The upper vertebra is cut transversely; the original vertebral canal remains open. The underlying body atlases are unchanged.

Spinal cord, butterfly-shaped gray matter, surrounding white matter, central canal, pia, arachnoid and dura are educational reconstructions registered to the atlas cord. Meninges are stepped and opened for visibility. C5 and C6 sensory and motor rootlets converge into mixed spinal nerves, with ganglia only on the dorsal roots. Bilateral ganglion positions use donor landmarks. Cervical roots C5/C6 exit above their corresponding vertebrae. Fine details and thicknesses are schematic, not patient-specific scans.

Only distal rami sway gently. Cord attachments, ganglia and proximal roots remain fixed. Sway is a visual effect, not physiological nerve motion. A pause control and reduced-motion preference stop the effect. The new viewer restores the previous menu when closed.

References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK11008/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK545206/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538136/