Exploration of the spinal cord and meninges in situ

Lumbar region; dura covering cauda equina

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Image #33-5

Exploration of the spinal cord and meninges in situ

Lumbar region; dura covering cauda equina

The arches of the third, fourth and fifth lumbar vertebrae and the upper two sacral segments have been resected. Epidural fat has been removed to expose segmentally arranged veins (15). Several fibrous strands (10) pass from the lower part of the dura to the sacrum.

1. Postero-lateral cutaneous branch of thoracic nerve XII
2. Spinous process lumbar vertebra II
3. Inferior articular process lumbar vertebra II
4. Longissimus dorsi muscle
5. Dorsal iliocostal muscle
6. Lumbodorsal fascia
7. Multifidus muscle (cut across near origin from mammillary process)
8. Superficial Fascia
9. Dura mater
10. Fibrous strands attaching dura to sacrum
11. Gluteus maximus muscle
12. Fascia of latissimus dorsi muscle
13. Aponeurosis of latissimus dorsi muscle
14. Layer of fascia beneath lumbodorsal fascia
15. Internal vertebral venous plexus
16. Arch of lumbar vertebra III (cut across)
17. Arch of lumbar vertebra IV (cut across)
18. Arch of lumbar vertebra V (cut across)
19. Arch of sacrum (cut across)
20. Root sacral nerve I
21. Filum of spinal dura mater (coccygeal nerve roots accompany this band)