The spinal cord is a large structure made up of nerve tissue.
From a non-technical perspective, the spinal cord runs from the head to the tail, through the center of the vertebral column.
What really happens is the spinal cord runs from the head to the level of the bottom of the ribs. Below the ribs the spinal cord becomes numerous large individual nerves that together travel all the way down the spine to the coxxyx. This part of the spinal cord that is below the ribs is called the cauda equina.
