Final answer:
The conus medullaris is the tapered, terminal part of the spinal cord, occurring before the cauda equina which is the bundle of nerve roots that extends from it.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tapered, terminal part of the spinal cord is referred to as the conus medullaris. It marks the end of the spinal cord proper and is followed by a bundle of nerve roots called the cauda equina, which resembles a horse's tail. These nerve roots exit the vertebral column through the intervertebral foramina and carry information to and from the legs and lower parts of the body. The spinal cord itself is a vital structure within the vertebral column that communicates signals between the brain and the rest of the body, with regions named corresponding to the levels at which spinal nerves pass through the intervertebral foramina: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral.