Trunk nerves (intercostal, sympathetic, vagus nerve)
Central canal of the spinal cord (Canalis centralis)
Canalis centralis medullae spinalis
- Origin
- Runs through the middle of the grey matter along the whole length of the cord, as the continuation of the fourth ventricle
- Insertion
- Ends blindly as the terminal ventricle in the conus medullaris
- Function
- Remnant tube of the neural tube filled with cerebrospinal fluid and lined with ependyma; it connects the ventricular system of the brain with the cord
- Innervation
- None; this is a cerebrospinal fluid space
- Movement & chain
- Carries cerebrospinal fluid
- Palpation
- Not palpable; visible only on MRI
- Clinical
- Syringomyelia is a widening into a fluid filled cavity, often together with a Chiari malformation; the first sign is a dissociated sensory loss, because the crossing pain and temperature fibres run right next to the canal. In adults the canal is often partly obliterated.
- Segmental innervation
- Along the whole length C1-Co1
- In clinical practice
- Recognising a dissociated sensory loss, preventing burns when pain and temperature sense are lost, and supporting the patient around MRI follow-up
- Region in the model
- Trunk nerves (intercostal, sympathetic, vagus nerve)