What is the Filum?

The filum terminale is the nonfunctional continuation of the end of the spinal cord. It usually consists of fibrous tissue without functional nervous tissue.

What is called filum terminale?

The filum terminale (FT) is a fibrous band that extends from the conus medullaris to the periosteum of the coccyx, and its functions are to fixate, stabilize, and buffer the distal spinal cord from normal and abnormal cephalic and caudal traction.

What is the function of the cauda equina?

The cauda equina is the sack of nerve roots (nerves that leave the spinal cord between spaces in the bones of the spine to connect to other parts of the body) at the lower end of the spinal cord. These nerve roots provide the ability to move and feel sensation in the legs and the bladder.

Is filum terminale covered by dura?

Gross anatomy The filum terminale is continuous with the pia mater and is described as having two sections: filum terminale internum: upper three quarters of the filum; covered by the spinal dura and arachnoid meninges.

Where does dura end?

The dura, made of a dense fibrous material, forms the dural sac, which surrounds the spinal cord and cauda equina (to be discussed later) and terminates at the level of the second sacral vertebra. The dura is separated from the vertebrae by the epidural fat in the epidural space (epi, meaning upon).

What is the medullary cone?

The conus medullaris (medullary cone) is the cone-shaped terminal portion of the spinal cord. The conus medullaris is tethered to the coccyx by a fibrous cord called the filum terminale, which stabilizes the distal end of the spinal cord.

Is cauda equina an emergency?

Cauda equina syndrome is a rare disorder that usually is a surgical emergency. In patients with cauda equina syndrome, something compresses on the spinal nerve roots. You may need fast treatment to prevent lasting damage leading to incontinence and possibly permanent paralysis of the legs.

What is the dural sac?

Dural sac: The membranous sac that encases the spinal cord within the bony structure of the vertebral column. Dural refers to the dura, the name of the membrane around the spinal cord (and brain, too).

Where does the dural sac end?

Here at the base of the skull, the dural sac passes through the foramen magnum, becoming continuous with the layer of dura that surrounds the brain. At the bottom end, within the vertebral canal of the sacrum, the dural sac tapers down to a point, at the level of the second sacral segment.

What is the dura in the spine?

The dura mater, sometimes called the dura, is the outermost layer of the meninges. The dura is normally a tough connective tissue. The CSF is contained within the subarachnoid space, between the arachnoid mater and the pia mater layers.