Central canal - wikipedia Central canal For the engineering project, see Indiana Central Canal. Central canal of spinal cord Cross-section through cervical spinal cord. Details Identifiers Latin canalis centralis medullae spinalis TA A14. 1.02. 019 FMA 78497 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) The central canal, also known as ependymal canal, is the cerebrospinal fluid - filled space that runs longitudinally through the length of the entire spinal cord. The central canal is continuous with the ventricular system of the brain. The fourth ventricle narrows at a region called the obex to become the central canal of the spinal cord. The central canal helps to transport nutrients to the spinal cord as well as protect it by cushioning the impact of a force when the spine is affected The central canal represents the adult remainder of the central cavity of the neural tube. It generally occludes ( closes off ) with age. Contents 1 Structure 2 Clinical significance 3 Terminal ventricle 4 Central gelatinous substance 5 See also 6 References 7 External links Structure Clinical significance 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 motor function at the affected levels on contralateral sides. Terminal ventricle The terminal ventricle ( ventriculus terminalis, fifth ventricle or ampulla caudalis ) is the widest part of the central canal of the spinal cord that is located at or near the conus medullaris. It was described by Stilling in 1859 and Krause in 1875. Krause introduced the term fifth ventricle after observation of normal ependymal cells. The central canal expands as a fusiform terminal ventricle, and approximately 8 -- 10 mm in length in the conus medullaris ( or conus terminalis ). Although the terminal ventricle is visible in the fetus and children, it is usually absent in adults. Sometimes, the terminal ventricle is observed by MRI or ultrasound in children less than 5 years old. An MRI scan can be particularly helpful in its detection. In pathological conditions, an MRI is useful at the level of the conus medullaris. Findings may be related to the following : Spina bifida Arnold - Chiari syndrome Tumors of the conus medullaris Myelomeningocele Syringomyelia Hydromyelia. In hydromyelia, a dilation of the central canal of the spinal cord is caused by an increase of cerebrospinal fluid. Syringohydromyelia ( i.e., both Syringomyelia and Hydromyelia ) Tethered cord In some cases, the terminal ventricle may cause clinical symptoms due to its expansion. Central gelatinous substance Central gelatinous substance of spinal cord Substantia gelatinosa centralis is Rexed lamina X, labeled at center. Details Identifiers Latin substantia gelatinosa centralis medullae spinalis TA A14. 1.02. 019 FMA 78497 Anatomical terminology ( edit on Wikidata ) Throughout the cervical and thoracic regions the central canal is situated in the anterior third of the spinal cord ; in the lumbar enlargement it is near the middle, and in the conus medullaris it approaches the posterior surface. It is filled with cerebrospinal fluid, and lined by ciliated, columnar epithelium, outside of which is an encircling band of gelatinous substance, the substantia gelatinosa centralis ( or central gelatinous substance of spinal cord ). This gelatinous substance consists mainly of neuroglia, but contains a few nerve cells and fibers ; it is traversed by processes from the deep ends of the columnar ciliated cells which line the central canal. It should not be confused with the Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando, which is located more dorsally. See also Ependyma Ventricular system References Jump up ^ 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. ^ Jump up to : `` ventriculus terminalis ''. first1 = missing last1 = in Authors list ( help ) ^ Jump up to : Liccardo G, Ruggeri F, De Cerchio L, Floris R, Lunardi P ( June 2005 ). `` Fifth ventricle : an unusual cystic lesion of the conus medullaris ''. Spinal Cord. 43 ( 6 ) : 381 -- 4. doi : 10.1038 / sj. sc. 3101712. PMID 15655569. Jump up ^ Williams & Warwick. Gray 's Anatomy. THIRTY - SEVENTH EDITION. ISBN 0 443 04177 6 Jump up ^ Celli P, D'Andrea G, Trillò G, Roperto R, Acqui M, Ferrante L ( March 2002 ). `` Cyst of the medullary conus : malformative persistence of terminal ventricle or compressive dilatation ? ''. Neurosurgical Review. 25 ( 1 -- 2 ) : 103 -- 6. doi : 10.1007 / s10143 - 001 - 0203 - 8. PMID 11954762. ^ Jump up to : `` imaging in syringohydromyelia ''. first1 = missing last1 = in Authors list ( help ) This article incorporates text in the public domain from page 753 of the 20th edition of Gray 's Anatomy ( 1918 ) External links `` Anatomy diagram : 13048.000 - 3 ''. Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014 - 01 - 01. ancil - 993 at NeuroNames The spinal cord General features Cervical enlargement Lumbar enlargement Conus medullaris Filum terminale Cauda equina Meninges Central canal Terminal ventricle Grey columns Posterior grey column Marginal nucleus Substantia gelatinosa of Rolando Nucleus proprius Spinal lamina V Spinal lamina VI Lateral grey column Intermediolateral nucleus Posterior thoracic nucleus Anterior grey column Interneuron Alpha motor neuron Onuf 's nucleus Gamma motor neuron Other Rexed laminae Central gelatinous substance Gray commissure White matter Sensory Posterior Posterior column - medial lemniscus pathway : Gracile Cuneate Lateral : Spinocerebellar dorsal ventral Spinothalamic lateral anterior Posterolateral Spinotectal Spinoreticular tract Spino - olivary tract Motor Lateral Corticospinal Lateral Extrapyramidal Rubrospinal Olivospinal Raphespinal Anterior Corticospinal Anterior Extrapyramidal Vestibulospinal Reticulospinal Tectospinal Both Anterior white commissure External features Ventral Anterior median fissure Anterolateral sulcus Dorsal Posterior median sulcus Posterolateral sulcus Anatomy portal Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Central_canal&oldid=841960883 '' Categories : Wikipedia articles incorporating text from the 20th edition of Gray 's Anatomy ( 1918 ) Spinal cord Ventricular system Hidden categories : Pages with unresolved properties CS1 errors : missing author or editor All articles lacking reliable references Articles lacking reliable references from May 2014 Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from May 2014 Talk Contents About Wikipedia Català Deutsch Español فارسی Français Italiano Nederlands 日本 語 Suomi Українська 4 more Edit links This page was last edited on 19 May 2018, at 07 : 26. 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Question: where is the central canal of the spinal cord located
Answer: longitudinally through the length of the entire spinal cord