Final answer:
The pia mater is the meningeal layer that directly contacts the spinal cord, being the innermost layer of the meninges.
Step-by-step explanation:
The layer of the meninges that directly contacts and covers the spinal cord is the pia mater. The pia mater is the innermost layer of the meninges and adheres closely to the surface of the central nervous system, tracing its contours and nerve rootlets.
The meninges consist of three layers: the durable dura mater as the outermost layer, the web-like arachnoid mater as the middle layer, and the delicate pia mater making direct contact with the brain and spinal cord.