VERTEBRAL CANAL
The vertebral canal is a space created by the vertebral foramina of the vertebral column. It is an isolated part of the human body that encloses the spinal cord, its vessels and meninges and mechanically protects it from trauma.
- Extends from the foramen magnum to the sacral hiatus distally.
- The Canal is widest in the lumbar region & narrowest in the thoracic region.
adjacent laminae. The vertebral canal tapers distally, becoming narrower and continuing through the sacrum as the sacral canal, which contains the cauda equina¹. In summary, the
Boundaries
- 1 Ventrally: posterior longitudinal ligament
- 2 Dorsally: vertebral arches and ligamenta flava
- 3 Laterally: vertebral pedicles
Content
- 4 Spinal cord
- 5 Rootlets
- 5.1 Anterior root of spinal nerve
- 5.2 Posterior root of spinal nerve
- 6 Spinal dura mater
- 7 Spinal arachnoid mater
- 8 Spinal pia mater
- 9 Denticulate ligament
- 10 Anterior spinal artery (unpaired artery) and posterior spinal arteries (one or two arteries)
- 11 Anterior and posterior internal vertebral venous plexus
- 12 Anterior and posterior spinal veins
The intervertebral disc can herniate dorsally or laterally. Dorsal herniation of the intervertebral disc may compress the spinal cord or the cauda equina. Lateral intervertebral disc herniation can cause compression of the spinal nerve rootlets.