Spinal cord

Key Points

• The spinal cord originates as a continuation of the medulla oblongata in the brainstem
• The spinal cord terminates at L3 at birth, and L1/L2 by the age of 21.
• It has 2 enlargements. One in the cervical region for the brachial plexus and the second in the lumbosacral region for the lumbar and sacral plexuses.
• Remember that spinal segments are different to vertebral levels. See the table below.
• It is supplied by three arteries. A single anterior artery and a pair of posterior spinal arteries.

Wikipedia