Spinal Cord Anatomy CLOSE

Spinal Cord Within Vertebral Canal

The following drawing depicts a spinal cord segment within a lumbar vertebra, at the level of an intervertebral disc (nucleus pulposus surrounded by annulus fibrosus). Spinal nerves are present bilaterally at intervertebral foramina, dorsal to the disc. An epidural space, containing fat, is evident external to spinal dura mater (blue). The latter is shown surrounding roots on the left; it is removed on the right side. Bilaterally, dorsal and ventral spinal roots (green) unite to form a spinal nerve (yellow) which soon branches. Bilateral thickenings of pia mater (purple), called denticulate ligaments, suspend the spinal cord within the dura mater.

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