Grey matter facts for kids

The spinal cord, showing grey matter inside.

Grey matter is a very important part of your central nervous system. Think of your central nervous system as the main control center for your body. It includes your brain and your spinal cord.

Grey matter is mostly made of special cells called neurons. These are often called 'brain cells'. It also has other cells called glial cells that support the neurons.

The main difference between grey matter and white matter is how they look. White matter gets its color from a fatty covering called myelin. Myelin wraps around long nerve fibers, making them look white. Grey matter doesn't have much myelin, so it looks different.

In a living body, grey matter isn't really grey. It's actually a light grey color, sometimes with yellowish or pinkish hints. These colors come from tiny blood vessels called capillarys and the neuron cells themselves.

What is Grey Matter?

Grey matter is a key part of your brain and spinal cord. It's where a lot of the 'thinking' and 'processing' happens. It helps you control your movements, remember things, feel emotions, and understand what you see and hear.

Where is Grey Matter Found?

You can find grey matter in several important places. It forms the outer layer of your cerebrum, which is the largest part of your brain. This outer layer is called the cerebral cortex. Grey matter is also found deep inside your brain in areas like the thalamus and basal ganglia. In your spinal cord, grey matter forms a butterfly-shaped area in the center.

What Does Grey Matter Do?

Grey matter is super busy! It helps with many important body functions.

• Movement: It helps you move your muscles.
• Memory: It plays a big role in learning and remembering things.
• Emotions: Your feelings are also processed here.
• Senses: It helps you understand information from your senses, like sight, hearing, and touch.
• Decision Making: It helps you make choices and solve problems.

All these jobs show how vital grey matter is for your body and mind to work properly.

Images for kids

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  Cross-section of a spinal vertebra with the spinal cord in the centre (and grey matter labelled).

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  Interneurons present in the grey matter of the spinal cord

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  Schematic representation of the chief ganglionic categories (I to V).

See also

• In Spanish: Sustancia gris para niños