Along the entire anterior part of the spinal cord runs in the midline a deep narrow furrow: the anterior median anterior slit of the spinal cord (fissure mediana anterior). The gap separates the right and left front cord from each other and contains the anterior spinal artery (a. spinalis anterior).
The bottom of the gap is formed by white matter containing nerve fibers which cross over the mean line: the anterior white transverse connection of the spinal cord (commissura alba anterior). The cross-connection enables nerve fibers to change sides during their course up or down the spinal cord.