Final answer:
The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord is characterized by the gray matter and white matter. The gray matter is shaped like an ink-blot test, resembling a bulbous capital 'H', and is divided into regions called horns. The white matter is organized into columns and relays sensory and motor information between the spinal cord and the brain.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord is characterized by the gray matter and white matter. The gray matter is shaped like an ink-blot test, resembling a bulbous capital 'H', and is divided into regions called horns. The posterior horn is responsible for sensory processing, the anterior horn sends out motor signals to skeletal muscles, and the lateral horn contains motor neurons of the autonomic nervous system. On the other hand, the white matter is organized into columns and relays sensory and motor information between the spinal cord and the brain.