The contribution of peridurography to the anatomy of the lumbosacral spinal canal
Lewit, K.
Folia Morphologica 24(3): 289-295
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0015-5640 PMID: 964799 Document Number: 97995
The typical picture in the PA [posterio-anterior] view with 2 lateral columns separated by a medial translucency was valid only for the lower part of the lumbar spinal canal; the width of both lateral columns put together was less than the width of the spinal canal. In the upper part of the lumbar spinal canal (usually above L3) there were no lateral columns, the contrast filling showing 2 distinct lateral margins corresponding exactly to the width of the spinal canal. In the PA view the caudal end of the contrast filling co-incided with the caudal end of the dural sac as shown by perimyelography. The explanation of these findings lies in the shape of the human lumbo-sacral spinal canal: this is oval in the upper lumbar region, triangular in the lower and slit-like in the sacral region. These anatomical conditions are characteristic only for man. The lateral view showed the width of the lumbar spinal canal in the ventro-dorsal diameter; a considerable variability was found with a high incidence of a narrow spinal canal.