The Spinal Cord and the Spinal Canal

The spinal cord is a cylindrical mass of nervous tissue that occupies the greatest part of the spinal canal (Figure 1.14), extending from the foramen magnum to end at the first to third lumbar vertebra (depending on the age of the child). ^7,15 There are two enlargements, cervical and lumbar, with a conical shape at the lower end, the conus medullaris (Figure 1.15). A thin fibrous strand derived from the pia mater, the filum terminale, extends downwards and is fixed to the posterior surface of the coccyx by blending with the coccygeal ligament. Figure 1.14 The spinal cord and the spinal canal. (A) Sagittal view in a female newborn infant. Note the termination level of the spinal cord and that of the epidural space. (B)(1) Foramen magnum. (2) Cervical enlargement. (3) Lumbar enlargement. (4) Conus medullaris. (5) L3 vertebral body. (6) Cauda equina. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-u.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203744253/d6b8d9ec-dc5c-4024-a687-9e54735f21c3/content/fig1_14.tif"/> Figure 1.15 Caudal part of the spinal canal. (Left) Sagittal view. (Right) Frontal view. (1) Conus medullaris. (2) Lumbar cistern. (3) Filum terminale. (4) Coccygeal ligament. (5) Dura mater. (6) Cauda equina. https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-u.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203744253/d6b8d9ec-dc5c-4024-a687-9e54735f21c3/content/fig1_15.tif"/>