Cauda equina

The cauda equina (Latin for horse's tail ) is an anatomical structure of man, which is located within the spinal column in a bag of hard spinal cord ( dura mater ) and spinal arachnoid.

Location

The cauda equina extending from the lower end of the spinal cord (in adults at about the level of the first lumbar vertebra ) to the sacrum. It involves horses tail arranged like nerve roots that extend in the cerebrospinal fluid -filled subarachnoid space and lying in the dural sac until they exit the spine at different heights laterally through the intervertebral foramina.

The cauda equina is in normal case without tension in the dural sac, their position is dependent on position ( lying posteriorly in the prone position ventral) and displays in ultrasound examination of the newborn infant and a resonating movement patterns depending on respiration and CSF flow. In a caudal attachment of the nerve fibers tethered cord there is a disturbance of the oscillating pattern.

The course of the nerve fibers can be presented in detail in the magnetic resonance imaging.

Development

In the second month of development the spinal canal is filled through the spinal cord to its full length. The nerve roots exit the spinal cord and the spinal cord at approximately the identical height. In the third month, slowing the growth of the spinal cord and is left to the growth of the spine. Characterized due occurs a relative displacement of the spinal cord skull upwards ( cranially ), this is called ascensus. This has the consequence that the nerve roots must run one corresponding to the extent of ascensus path within the spinal canal before they leave the spine, as they retain their connection to the spinal cord and spinal column. In the sixth month of development, the end of the spinal cord extends to the sacral vertebrae, at birth, it is however the level of the third lumbar vertebra, in adults in the amount of the first to second lumbar vertebra.

Diseases

There are congenital abnormalities which hinder the said ascensus or handicapped can:

• MMC
• Scars after surgery
• Diastematomyelia
• Lipomas
• Fatty degeneration of the filum terminale
• The dermal

Neurological disorders associated with damage to the cauda equina, is called cauda equina syndrome. Older pet dogs of medium and large breeds are frequently affected by this disease (→ cauda equina syndrome of dogs).