Obex
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At the time the article was created Jeremy Jones had no recorded disclosures.
View Jeremy Jones's current disclosuresAt the time the article was last revised Yuranga Weerakkody had no recorded disclosures.
View Yuranga Weerakkody's current disclosuresThe obex is the most caudal point within the fourth ventricle, as it narrows and communicates with the central canal of the spinal cord. It is one of four routes via which cerebrospinal fluid may flow from the fourth ventricle (the others being the median and two lateral apertures).
The obex occurs at the level of the foramen magnum, with anatomical studies demonstrating the obex is approximately 10-12 mm above the plane of the foramen magnum. However in patients with with low tonsillar position, such as Chiari II malformation, the obex was below the plane of the foramen magnum3.
The obex is a reliable and consistent measure of the cervicomedullary junction, therefore, it also represents the level which distinguishes the intracranial medulla and the extracranial spinal cord.
History and etymology
"Obex" is Latin for "barrier".
References
- 1. Gray's Anatomy 39th Edition, Elsevier
- 2. Ross LMMP. Atlas of anatomy. George Thieme Verlag. (2007) ISBN:3131421215. Read it at Google Books - Find it at Amazon
- 2. Ronald G. Quisling, Scott G. Quisling, Parker Mickle. Obex/Nucleus gracilis Position: Its Role as a Marker for the Cervicomedullary Junction. (1993) Pediatric Neurosurgery. 19 (3): 143. doi:10.1159/000120719 - Pubmed
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