Filum terminale
Updates to Article Attributes
The filum terminale is a small thin filament of connective tissue that extends inferiorly from the apex of the conus medullaris to the sacrum.
Gross anatomy
The filum terminale is continuous with the pia mater and is described as having two sections:
filum terminale internum: upper three quarters of the filum; covered by the spinal dura and arachnoid meninges. About 62.5% of filum terminale internum and the dural sac terminates at or below S1/S2 disc space while 11.3% terminates above S1 4.
filum terminale externum: lower quarter of the filum; fuses with the investing dura mater and continues inferiorly to attach to the dorsal coccyx. It contains all three layers of meninges, also known as coccygeal ligament 5.
Variant anatomy
fatty filum terminale: can be considered as a cause of tethered cord 4 or may be considered a rare (<0.5%) anatomical variant in asymptomatic patients 3
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>filum terminale</strong> is a small thin filament of connective tissue that extends inferiorly from the apex of the <a href="/articles/conus-medullaris">conus medullaris</a> to the <a href="/articles/sacrum">sacrum</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The filum terminale is continuous with the <a href="/articles/spinal-pia-mater">pia mater</a> and is described as having two sections:</p><ul>-<li><p><strong>filum terminale internum:</strong> upper three quarters of the filum; covered by the <a href="/articles/spinal-dura-mater">spinal dura</a> and <a href="/articles/spinal-arachnoid-mater">arachnoid meninges</a></p></li>-<li><p><strong>filum terminale externum:</strong> lower quarter of the filum; fuses with the investing dura mater and continues inferiorly to attach to the dorsal coccyx</p></li>- +<p>The <strong>filum terminale</strong> is a small thin filament of connective tissue that extends inferiorly from the apex of the <a href="/articles/conus-medullaris">conus medullaris</a> to the <a href="/articles/sacrum">sacrum</a>. </p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>The filum terminale is continuous with the <a href="/articles/spinal-pia-mater">pia mater</a> and is described as having two sections:</p><ul>
- +<li><p><strong>filum terminale internum:</strong> upper three quarters of the filum; covered by the <a href="/articles/spinal-dura-mater">spinal dura</a> and <a href="/articles/spinal-arachnoid-mater">arachnoid meninges</a>. About 62.5% of filum terminale internum and the dural sac terminates at or below S1/S2 disc space while 11.3% terminates above S1 <sup>4</sup>.</p></li>
- +<li><p><strong>filum terminale externum:</strong> lower quarter of the filum; fuses with the investing dura mater and continues inferiorly to attach to the dorsal coccyx. It contains all three layers of meninges, also known as coccygeal ligament <sup>5</sup>.</p></li>
References changed:
- 5. Learning Modules - Medical Gross Anatomy Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerve - Page 3 of 14.<ref="https://anatomy.elpaso.ttuhsc.edu/modules/spinal_cord_module/spinalcord_03.html">Texas Tech University Health Science Center</a>
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