Fill in the Blanks spinal cord fill inOnline version spinal cord by kenneth thomas 1 dorsal descending sensory viscera ascending motor muscle cerebellum sensory muscles intermediate motor The mature spinal cord has an H - shaped central gray area which contains the cell bodies of the spinal neurons . This is surrounded by an area of white matter which contains the axons that ascend the cord to the brain , or that descend the cord from the brain . Spinal Cord Gray Matter The spinal cord gray matter is functionally divided into three major areas : the horn , the ventral horn , and the zone . Dorsal Horn : - contains ascending neurons and interneurons - relays incoming information to higher centers Ventral Horn : - contains neurons and interneurons - controls functions of the of the trunk and limbs Intermediate Zone : - contains autonomic pre - ganglionic neurons which control motor functioning of the - also contains neurons ( Clarke's column ) which send sensory information to the Spinal Cord White Matter The spinal cord white matter is functionally divided into three pairs of funiculi : the posterior funiculi , the lateral funiculi , and the anterior funiculi . Posterior Funiculi : - contains axons which relay information to the medulla oblongata Lateral Funiculi - contains sensory , motor , and autonomic axons Anterior Funiculi - contains axons descending from the brain which relay information to the