Spinal cord in an infant terminates at
In premature & term neonates- it lies b/w 1st & 3rd lumbar veebrae. In children between ages of (1-7yrs)- it lies between 12th thoracic and 3rd lumbar veebra. In adults, it terminates at the level of middle 3rd of body of 1st lumbar veebra which corresponds approximately to transpyloric plane. Spinal cord occupies superior 2/3rd of veebral canal It continues cranially with medulla oblongata, just below the level of foramen magnum, at the upper border of atlas and terminates caudally as conus medullaris. During development, veebral column elongates more rapidly than spinal cord, so there is increasing discrepancy b/w anatomical level of spinal cord segments & their corresponding veebrae.
L1
L2
L3
L4
Neuroanatomy 3