Conus medullaris
The tapered, lower end of the spinal cord
The conus medullaris is the tapered, lower end of the spinal cord. It occurs near the lower back, at the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra (L1 or L2), although the exact position can vary among individuals. The conus medullaris is an important anatomical structure as it marks the transition from the central nervous system to the peripheral nervous system.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The conus medullaris is the terminal end of the spinal cord, which is a long, thin, tubular structure made up of nervous tissue. The spinal cord itself is part of the central nervous system and extends from the medulla oblongata in the brainstem to the lumbar region of the vertebral column.
The conus medullaris is located at the level of the L1 or L2 vertebra in adults, but in infants, it is positioned at a lower level, around L3. This difference is due to the differential growth rates of the spinal cord and the vertebral column during development.
Function[edit | edit source]
The conus medullaris is responsible for transmitting neural signals between the brain and the lower parts of the body. It contains the lower segments of the spinal cord, which are involved in controlling the lower limbs and pelvic organs. The nerves that emerge from the conus medullaris form part of the cauda equina, a bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets.
Clinical Significance[edit | edit source]
The conus medullaris is clinically significant because it is a common site for certain types of spinal cord injuries and conditions. Damage to the conus medullaris can result in a condition known as conus medullaris syndrome, which is characterized by a combination of symptoms including lower back pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and lower limb weakness.
Conus medullaris syndrome can be caused by trauma, tumors, or infections that affect the lower spinal cord. It is important to differentiate this condition from cauda equina syndrome, which involves compression of the nerve roots below the conus medullaris.
Related pages[edit | edit source]
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates, categories Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
