Sacral canal

Definition

The sacral canal is the continuation of the vertebral canal, running through the sacrum and terminating at the sacral hiatus. It serves as a protective pathway for the nerve roots of the cauda equina.

Related terms

Sacrum:

The triangular bone at the base of the spine, formed by the fusion of five vertebrae, providing stability to the pelvis.

Cauda Equina: A bundle of spinal nerves and spinal nerve rootlets that appear as a "horse's tail" extending beyond the spinal cord in adults.

Vertebral Canal: The canal formed by vertebral foramina within which the spinal cord runs