(neuroscience) The roots of the sacral and coccygeal nerves, collectively; so called because of their resemblance to a horse's tail.
Cauda equina
| Sci-Tech Dictionary: cauda equina |
(′kau̇d·ə i′kwīn·ə)
| 5min Related Video: Cauda equina |
| Sports Science and Medicine: cauda equina |
The bundle of coccygeal, lumbar, and sacral nerve roots that descend from the spinal cord to pass through openings in the vertebrae.
| Medical Dictionary: cauda e·qui·na |
(ĭ-kwī'nə)
n.
n.
The bundle of spinal nerve roots running through the lower part of the subarachnoid space within the vertebral canal below the first lumbar vertebra.
| Wikipedia: Cauda equina |
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| Cauda equina | |
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| Cauda equina and filum terminale seen from behind. | |
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File:Human caudal spinal cord anterior view description.JPG
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| Human caudal spinal cord 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. The space in which the cerebrospinal fluid is present is actually an extension of the subarachnoid 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 fiber pairs, 3-5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and the single coccygeal nerve.
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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 obtain a sample of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for diagnostic purposes. Lumbar puncture, commonly referred to as a "spinal tap", is usually performed at the L3 or L4 intervertebral level, just inferior/distal to the origination of the cauda equina, the conus medullaris.
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 | Sci-Tech Dictionary. McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms. Copyright © 2003, 1994, 1989, 1984, 1978, 1976, 1974 by McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Sports Science and Medicine. The Oxford Dictionary of Sports Science & Medicine. Copyright © Michael Kent 1998, 2006, 2007. All rights reserved. Read more |
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| Medical Dictionary. The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Read more |
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