The relationship between the lumbosacral enlargement and the conus medullaris during the period of fetal development and adulthood

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 22; no. 3-4; pp. 163 - 168
• Main Authors: MALAS, M. A, SEKER, M, SALBACAK, A, BÜYÜKMUMCU, M, KARABULUT, A. K, YARDIMCI, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 2000; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cadaver; Development. Metamorphosis. Moult. Ageing; Embryonic and Fetal Development; Female; Fetus; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Infant, Premature; Lumbar Vertebrae - anatomy & histology; Lumbar Vertebrae - embryology; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Pregnancy; Sacrum - anatomy & histology; Sacrum - embryology; Spinal Cord - anatomy & histology; Spinal Cord - embryology; Vertebrates: anatomy and physiology, studies on body, several organs or systems; Human; Spinal cord; Nervous plexus; Conus medullaris; Development; Nervous system; Evolution; Lumbosacral; Anatomy; Comparative study
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-000-0163-7

The spinal cord is situated within the vertebral canal by the third month of intrauterine life. The spinal cord possesses two symmetrical enlargements, which constitute the segments of the plexuses: the cervical enlargement for the brachial plexus and the lumbosacral enlargement for the lumbar and sacral plexus. In our study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between the termination level of the lumbosacral enlargement (TLLE) and that of the conus medullaris (TLCM) during the period of fetal development and adulthood. We used a total of 75 cases: 25 fetuses (male: 16, female: 9) whose crown-rump length ranged between 90-190 mm, 25 premature and full-term neonates (male: 17, female: 8) whose post-menstrual ages ranged between 33-55 weeks, and 25 adults (male: 12, female: 13) aged between 22-72 years. The dissection technique for fetuses, ultrasonography for premature and full-term newborns, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for adults were used to determine lumbosacral enlargement and TLCM. The differences between the TLCM and the termination level of the largest part of the transverse diameter of the lumbosacral enlargement were investigated. The differences between the TLLE and TLCM were found in different ratios from the period of fetal development to adulthood. Therefore, during medical treatment and surgical procedures this should be taken into account to avoid complications.