Cauda equina

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Cauda equina
Cauda equina and filum terminale seen from behind.
Image:Human caudal spinal chord anterior view description.JPG
Human caudal spinal chord anterior view
Gray's	subject #208 919
Artery	Iliolumbar artery
MeSH	Cauda+Equina

The cauda equina is a structure within the lower end of the spinal column of most vertebrates, that consists of nerve roots and rootlets from above. Cauda equina is sometimes considered as an extension of the pia mater of the spinal cord. The space in which the cerebro spinal fluid is present is actually an extension of the sub arachnoid space.

In humans, because the spinal cord stops growing in infancy while the bones of the spine continue growing, the spinal cord in adults ends at about the level of the vertebra L1/L2 , and at birth at L3. However there is some variation in adults and the cord may end anywhere between vertebrae T12 to L3. Individual spinal nerve roots arise from the spinal cord as they do closer to the head, but as the differential growth occurs the top end of the nerve stays attached to the spinal cord and the lower end of the nerve exits the spinal column at its proper level, this results in a "bundle"-like structure of nerve fibres that extends caudally from the end of the spinal cord, gradually declining in number further down as individual pairs leave the spinal column. At the base of the Cauda Equina, there are approximately 10 fibre pairs, 3-5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and the single coccygeal nerve.

Contents 1 Etymology 2 Clinical relevance 3 See also 4 External links

Etymology

All these roots and rootlets down the vertebral column give the appearance of a horse's tail, which is the meaning of the Latin name cauda equina.

Clinical relevance

Cauda equina is the part of the spinal cord where a lumbar puncture is performed in order to get a sample of cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic purposes.

See also

• Cauda equina syndrome

External links

• MedlinePlus Image 19504
• SUNY Labs 02:08-0106
• Cross section at UV pembody/body12a

v • d • e Anatomy of torso (primarily): the spinal cord
Spinal nerve	Dorsal (Root, Ganglion, Ramus) • Ventral (Root, Ramus) • Sympathetic trunk • rami communicantes (Gray, White)
Gray matter/Rexed laminae	Posterior horn (Posteromarginal nucleus, Column of Clarke, Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando, Nucleus proprius) Lateral horn/Anterior horn (Intermediolateral nucleus) Central canal/Substantia gelatinosa centralis - Gray commissure
White matter	somatic/ascending (blue) Posterior/PCML: touch: Gracilis • Cuneatus Lateral: proprioception: Spinocerebellar (Dorsal, Ventral) • pain/temp: Spinothalamic (Lateral, Anterior) • Posterolateral (Lissauer) • Spinotectal motor/descending (red) Lateral: Corticospinal (Lateral) • Ep (Rubrospinal, Olivospinal) Anterior: Corticospinal (Anterior) • Ep (Vestibulospinal, Reticulospinal, Tectospinal)
Layers	Epidural space • Dura mater • Subdural space • Arachnoid mater • Subarachnoid space • Pia mater
Other structures	Denticulate ligaments • Conus medullaris • Cauda equina • Filum terminale • Cervical enlargement • Lumbar enlargement Anterior median fissure • Posterior median sulcus Anterior white commissure

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