Korean J Phys Anthropol.  2016 Jun;29(2):47-51. 10.11637/kjpa.2016.29.2.47.

The Tip Level of the Conus Medullaris by Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Cadaver Studies in Korean Adults

• Kwon S
• Kim TS
• Kim HS
• Rhyu IJ

• KMID: 2328100
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.11637/kjpa.2016.29.2.47

Abstract

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system, and its caudal end is named as the conus medullaris. Many researchers have reported the tip level of the conus medullaris by magnetic resonance imaging studies; others by cadaver dissection. The tip level of magnetic resonance imaging studies seemed to be higher than that of cadaver studies. We evaluated the tip level the conus medullaris with magnetic resonance imaging and cadaver dissection in Korean adult population. MR data were scanned with T1-weighted, mid-sagittal magnetic resonance imaging of 248 living persons (mean age, 42.3±16.0 years; range, 12-85 years) and cadaver data were collected by dissections of 118 cadavers (mean age, 56.0±14.9 years; range, 16-94 years). The mean level of conus tip was found to be at the middle third of 1st lumbar vertebra (range, lower third T12 - lower third L2) from magnetic resonance imaging study and the upper third of 2nd lumbar vertebra (range, lower third T12 - lower third L3) from cadaver dissection study. The tip level of conus medullaris from magnetic resonance imaging study was higher than that from cadaver dissection study (p<0.05).

Keyword

Spinal cord; Vertebra; MRI; Korean

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Cadaver*
Central Nervous System
Conus Snail*
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Spinal Cord*
Spine

Figure

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  Fig. 1. The vertebral body and intervertebral disc were divided into the equal portions in MRI image (A) and cadaver dissection (B). The arrow head indicates the tip level of the conus medullaris.

Reference

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