Final answer:
The spinal cord is a flexible, segmented, tubular bundle of nervous tissue, protected by the vertebral column, and consists of central gray matter surrounded by white matter. It transmits nerve signals between the brain and the body.
Step-by-step explanation:
The structure of the spinal cord can be described as a flexible, segmented structure protected by vertebrae, which makes option C the correct answer. The spinal cord is enveloped within the vertebral column , but is itself shorter than the column. It begins at the brainstem and extends down to the pelvis, transmitting signals between the brain and the rest of the body. Within this protective case, the spinal cord is made up of both gray matter and white matter . The gray matter is centrally located and consists largely of neuron cell bodies, while the surrounding white matter comprises myelinated axons. Furthermore, the spinal cord is functionally divided into segments corresponding to the vertebrae, each serving specific areas of the body via the peripheral nervous system.