Central canal of spinal cord Information & Central canal of spinal cord Links at HealthHaven.com

Central canal of spinal cord
	Cross-section through cervical spinal cord.
Latin	canalis centralis medullae spinalis
Gray's	subject #185 753

For the engineering project, see Indiana Central Canal.

The central canal is the cerebrospinal fluid-filled space that runs longitudinally through the length of the entire spinal cord. The central canal is contiguous with the ventricular system of the brain. The central canal represents the adult remainder of the neural tube.

It generally occludes, closes off, as we age.^[1]

The obex connects the central canal to the fourth ventricle.

Syringomyelia is a disease caused by the occlusion of the central canal. Occlusions of the central canal typically occur at the lower cervical and upper thoracic levels. This typically damages white matter fibers that cross in anterior white commissure, leading to the loss of temperature, pain, and coarse touch sensation at the affected levels on contralateral sides.

[edit] References

^ Yasui K, Hashizume Y, Yoshida M, Kameyama T, Sobue G (1999). "Age-related morphologic changes of the central canal of the human spinal cord". Acta Neuropathol. 97 (3): 253–9. doi:10.1007/s004010050982. PMID 10090672.

[edit] External links

Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator, at Elsevier 13048.000-3

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[0] Yasui K, Hashizume Y, Yoshida M, Kameyama T, Sobue G (1999). "Age-related morphologic changes of the central canal of the human spinal cord". Acta Neuropathol. 97 (3): 253–9. doi:10.1007/s004010050982. PMID 10090672.

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