Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) image of the human neck area, featuring a normal spinal cord. The grey area in top centre right of the image is the brainstem - the base of the brain, which extends downwards into the spinal cord. Surrounding the cord & visible to left & right are the bony vertebrae which compose the spine: on the left hand side the central portions of the inter- vertebral discs can be seen. The trachea (the airway from the mouth to the lungs) is visible at far left, with the throat at top. The distinct white line on the far right is the layer of fat underneath the skin at the back of the neck. Image obtained using spin echo technique.