Final answer:
The dorsal horn, or posterior horn, of the spinal cord is the segment that receives incoming sensory information, processing the input from sensory neurons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The portion of the spinal cord that receives incoming sensory information is the dorsal horn, also known as the posterior horn.
In the spinal cord, the gray matter is shaped like a bulbous capital 'H,' with various segments referred to as horns. The posterior horn is where sensory processing occurs. It receives input from sensory neurons that travel through the dorsal (posterior) root ganglia, thereby functioning as the hub for incoming sensory data before it is relayed to other parts of the central nervous system (CNS).
The ventral horn is involved in sending out motor signals to the skeletal muscles, and the lateral horn contains motor neurons of the autonomic nervous system, which are present only in certain regions of the spinal cord.