Spinal Cord Location: Vertebral Canal vs. Spinous Processes

The spinal cord does not run through the spinous processes. The spinous processes are the bony projections you can feel along the back of the spine. Instead, the spinal cord is housed within the vertebral canal (also called the spinal canal), a hollow channel formed by the aligned vertebral foramina of the stacked vertebrae. This canal protects the spinal cord while allowing nerve roots to exit between vertebrae.