"The spinal cord measures approximately 42-45 cm in length, ~1 cm in diameter and 35 g in weight 1,2,8. The calibre of the cord is not, however, uniform along its length. Rather it has two expansion corresponding to the upper limbs (cervical expansion; C3-T2) and lower limbs (lumbar expansion; T9-T12) 8."
Expected headings
"Terminology"
"Internal structure"
"Grey matter"
"White matter"
"Blood supply"
"Although the spinal cord is anatomically divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal segments on the basis of segments that correspond to the emerging nerve roots, due to the disproportionate growth of the spine compared to the cord, these segments do not match adjacent vertebral bodies. In clinical radiology practice, as it is difficult to identify the spinal cord segments on imaging, the spinal cord is usually referred to relative to the spine. In other words, the cervical cord is the cord segment extending from the base of skull to the C7/T1 disc level, and the thoracic cord extends from there to the T12/L1 disc. The very tip is the conus medullaris, usually located at approximately L1/2, although this is variable. The segment of the cord between the conus medullaris and T12/L1 is rarely, if ever, referred to as the lumbar cord."
"The spinal cord is divided into cervical, thoracic and lumbar parts and terminates at the tip of the conus medullaris at approximately the L1 vertebral body level in adults."
"The grey matter contains the cell bodies of neurones and glia and is enlarged in the cervical and lumbosacral regions to provide fibres to the large nerve plexuses. It is divided into anterior, dorsal and lateral horns and periependymal grey matter 3,5:"
"The white matter contains nerve fibres or tracts and is divided into anterior, dorsal and lateral columns (also known as funiculi) as well as the anterior spinal commissure 3,5."
"The spinal cord measures approximately 42-45 cm in length, ~1 cm in diameter and 35 g in weight 1,2,8. The calibre of the cord is not, however, uniform along its length. Rather it has two expansion corresponding to the upper limbs (cervical expansion; C3-T2) and lower limbs (lumbar expansion; T9-T12) 8."
"The spinal cord measures approximately 42-45 cm in length, ~1 cm in diameter and 35 g in weight 1,2,8. The calibre of the cord is not, however, uniform along its length. Rather it has two expansion corresponding to the upper limbs (cervical expansion; C3-T2) and lower limbs (lumbar expansion; T9-T12) 8."