Which structure is located at the anterior portion of the spinal cord?

The ventral horn is accurately identified as located at the anterior portion of the spinal cord. This structure plays a critical role in motor control by housing somatic motor neurons, which send signals out to the skeletal muscles. These motor neurons originate in the ventral horn and their axons exit the spinal cord through the ventral roots, making it essential for voluntary movement.

In contrast, the dorsal horn, located at the posterior aspect of the spinal cord, contains sensory neurons that receive input from the periphery. The lateral horn, which is present in certain segments of the spinal cord, is involved in autonomic functions and is situated between the dorsal and ventral horns. The dorsal column, serving primarily sensory functions, is found at the posterior side of the spinal cord and primarily transmits tactile and proprioceptive information to the brain. Thus, the anatomical position of the ventral horn in the anterior region underscores its functional significance in motor output.