Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Anatomy of the lumbar radicular canal

Anatomie du canal radiculaire lombaire

  • Published:
Anatomia Clinica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The radicular canal is defined as the lateral part of the spinal canal containing the spinal nerve root from its point of emergence through the dural envelope up to and including the intervertebral foramen. The radicular canal, resembling a hollow hemicylinder opened towards the midline, can be divided into three parts, i.e. retrodiscal, parapedicular (the lateral recess per se) and foraminal. The different walls of the canal (notably those of the lateral recess) are described. A review of the main types of roentgenographic exploration of the radicular canal are presented based on these anatomical findings. Finally, this static description of the typical lumbar radicular canal and its variations according to the lumbar or sacral level under consideration is followed by a presentation of the modifications which arise in the upright position and during extension and flexion of the lumbar spine.

Résumé

Le canal radiculaire est défini comme la portion latérale du canal rachidien dans laquelle circule la racine depuis sa sortie du cul-de-sac dural jusqu'au foramen (ou trou de conjugaison) compris. Cet hémicylindre creux, ouvert vers la ligne médiane, peut être divisé en trois portions: rétrodiscale, parapédiculaire (récessus latéral à proprement parler) et foraminale. Les différentes parois (notamment du récessus latéral) sont décrites. Une revue des principaux moyens d'exploration radiographiques du canal radiculaire normal est au mieux précisée grâce à ces bases anatomiques. Enfin, après cette description statique du canal radiculaire lombaire moyen et de ses variations selon l'étage lombaire ou sacré considéré, les auteurs exposent les modifications entraînées par la mise en charge, l'extension et la flexion du rachis lombaire.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. D'Avella D, Mingrino S (1979) Microsurgical anatomy of lumbosacral spinal roots. J Neurosurg 51:819–823

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Babin E, Capesius P, Maitrot D (1977) Signes radiologiques osseux des variétés morphologiques des canaux lombaires étroits. Ann Radiol (Paris) 20:501–507

    Google Scholar 

  3. Badgely CE (1941) The articular facets in relation to low back pain and sciatic radiation. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 23:481–496

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bailey P, Casamajor L (1911) Osteoarthritis of the spine as a cause of compression of the spinal cords and its roots. With reports of five cases. J Nerv Ment Dis 38:588–609

    Google Scholar 

  5. Bourbotte G, Castan Ph, Boluix B, Gras M, Camnal D (1969) Eléments de radio-anatomie, du rachis lombo-sacré en tomodensitométrie, Lombalgies et Médecine de Réducation. Masson, Paris, pp 38–47

    Google Scholar 

  6. Burton CV, Heithoff KB, Kirkaldy-Willis WH (1979) Computer tomographic scanning of the lumbar spine. Part II. Clinical considerations. Spine 4:356–368

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Capesius P, Kaiser M, Poos C, Petti M, Poos D (1983) Etude scanographique de l'arc postérieur lombaire, Lombalgies et Médecine de Rééducation. Masson, Paris, pp 48–54

    Google Scholar 

  8. Cauchoix J, Lassale B, Deburge A, Karrat K, Benoist M (1981) Sténoses lombaires dégénératives. Revue de 78 cas opérés. Rev Chir Orthop 67:407–420

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Chirossel JP, Crouzet G, Hosatte F, Vasdev A, Mercier Ph (1982) Aspects tomodensitométriques de l'anatomie du canal lombaire, IIIème Symposium sur la Pathologie Rachidienne, Montpellier

  10. Ciric I, Mikhael MA, Tarkinton JA, Vick NA (1980) The lateral recess syndrome. A variant of spinal stenosis. J Neurosurg 53:433–443

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Creissard P (1972) Anatomie des racines du sciatique dans le canal lombaire. La hernie discale en tant qu'agent de compression radiculaire. Rev Prat 22:3095–3105

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Crock HV (1981) Normal and pathological anatomy of the lumbar spinal nerve roots canals. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 63:B 4

    Google Scholar 

  13. Danforth MS, Wilson PD (1925) The anatomy of lumbosacral region in relation ot sciatic pain. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 7:109–160

    Google Scholar 

  14. Davatchi F, Benoist M, Massare C, Helenon C, Bloch-Michel M (1969) Contribution à l'étude des canaux étroits à l'étage lombaire. Technique radiologique et valeur normale. Sem Hop Paris 45:1008–2012

    Google Scholar 

  15. Deramond M, Tyan P, Legars D, Remond A, Trinez G (1982) Le réseau latéral lombaire: étude anatomique et radiologique. Incidences fonctionelles en particulier chez le jeune. Cinésiologie, XXI, 53–58

    Google Scholar 

  16. Epstein JA (1960) Diagnosis and treatment of painful neurological discord caused by spondylosis of the lumbar spine. J Neurosurg 17:6, 991–1001

    Google Scholar 

  17. Epstein BS, Epstein JA, Lavine LS (1964) The effect of anatomic variations in the lumbar vertebrae and spinal canal on cauda equina and nerve root syndromes. Am J Roentgenol 91:1055–1063

    Google Scholar 

  18. Epstein JA, Epstein BS, Rosenthal AD (1972) Sciatica caused by nerve root entrapment in the lateral recess: the superior facet syndrome. J Neurosurg 36:584–589

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Epstein JA, Epstein BS, Lavine LS (1973) Lumbar nerve root compression at the intervertebral foramina caused by arthritis of the posterior facets. J Neurosurg 39:362–369

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Frerebeau P, Privat JM, Benezech J, Van Vyve M, Gomis R (1977) Le canal lombaire étroit arthrosique. Etude anatomo-radiologique. Considérations techniques. Neurochirurgie 23, 5:389–400

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gargano FP, Jacobson R, Rosomoff M (1974) Transverse axial tomography of the spine. Neuroradiology 6:254–258

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Ghormley RK (1933) Low back pain, with special reference to the articular facets, with presentation of an operative procedure. JAMA 101:1773–1774

    Google Scholar 

  23. Hadley LA (1949) Constriction of the intervertebral foramina. A cause of nerve root pressure. JAMA 140:473–475

    Google Scholar 

  24. Hammerschlag SB, Wolpert SM, Carter BL (1976) Computed tomography of the spinal canal. Radiology 121:361–367

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Hinck VC, Hopkins CE, Clark WN (1962) Sagittal diameter of the lumbar spinal canal in children and adults. Radiology 79:97–108

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Haughton VM (1980) Soft tissue anatomy within the spinal canal as scan or C.T. Radiology 134:649–655

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Huizinga J, Heiden JA, Vinken P (1952) The human lumbar vertebral canal: a biometrie study. Konninkijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen. Proceedings on the Section of the Sciences C: 55, 22

    Google Scholar 

  28. Jacobson RE, Gargano FP, Rosomoff ML (1975) Transverse axial tomography of the spine, Part 2. The stenotic spinal canal. J Neurosurg 42:412–419

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Jones RAC, Thompson JLG (1968) The narrow lumbar canal: a clinical and radiological review. J Bone Joint Surg [Br] 50:595–605

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kirkaldy-Willis VH, Heithoff K, Bowen CVA, Shannon R (1980) Pathological anatomy of lumbar spondylosis and stenosis correlated with the C.T. scan. Radiographie Evaluation of the Spine. Masson, New-York, pp 34–55

    Google Scholar 

  31. Krempen JF, Buel SS (1974) Nerve root injection. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 56:1435

    Google Scholar 

  32. Latarjet A, Magnin F (1941) Etude anatomique des rapports des racines rachidiennes lombaires avec l'étui dural et le système ostéoarticulaire vertébral. J Med Lyon pp 347–357

  33. Lee BCP, Kazam E, Newman AD (1978) Computed tomography of the spine and spinal cord. Radiology 128:95–102

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Lewin T (1964) Osteoarthritis in lumbar synovial joints. A morphologic study. Acta Orthop Scand [Suppl] 73:1–112

    Google Scholar 

  35. Louis R (1961) Contribution à l'étude des rapports des racines et de la moelle de l'adulte avec les lames et les disques intervertébraux. Thèse Med, Marseille

  36. Louis R (1983) Chirurgie du rachis — Surgery of the spine. Surgical anatomy and approaches. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, 322 p. English and French edition available

    Google Scholar 

  37. MacNab I (1971) Negative disk exploration. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 53:891

    Google Scholar 

  38. MacNab I (1977) Back Ache. William and Wilkins, Baltimore

    Google Scholar 

  39. Mixter WJ, Barr JB (1934) Rupture of intervertebral disc with involvement of spinal canal. N Engl J Med 211:210–215

    Google Scholar 

  40. Nelson MA (1973) Lumbar spinal stenosis. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 55:506–512

    Google Scholar 

  41. Post MJD, Gargano FP, Viming DQ (1978) A comparison of radiographie methods of diagnosis in constrictive lesions of the spinal canal. J Neurosurg 48:360–368

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Roberson GH, Llewellym HJ, Taveras JM (1973) The narrow spinal canal syndrome. Radiology 107:89–97

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Roland J, Larde D, Masson JP, Picard L (1977) Les veines lombaires épidurales: radio-anatomie normale. J Radiol 58:1, 35–38

    Google Scholar 

  44. Salamon G, Louis R, Guerinel G (1966) Le foureau dural lombo-sacré. Etude radio-anatomique. Acta Radiologia 5:1107–1123

    Google Scholar 

  45. Schlesinger PT (1955) Incarceration of the first sacral nerve in a lateral long recess of the spinal canal as a cause of sciatica. J Bone Joint Surg [Am] 37:115–124

    Google Scholar 

  46. Schmorl G, Junghanns H (1971) The human spine in health and disease. Guine and Stratton, New-York, London

    Google Scholar 

  47. Selecki BR (1978) Low back disability. Australian Medical Publisching

  48. Senegas J, Guerin J, Carles CL (1974) Rapports du foureau dural et des racines lombaires et sacrées avec les vertèbres et les disques intervertébraux. Congrès International d'Anatomie, Manchester

  49. Sheldon JJ, Sersland T, Laborgne J (1977) Computed tomography of the lumbar vertebral column. Normal anatomy and the stenotic canal. Radiology 124:113–118

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Spurling RG, Mayfield FM, Rogers JB (1937) Hypertrophy of the ligamenta flava as a cause of low back pain. JAMA 109:928–933

    Google Scholar 

  51. Teulon M (1941) Le trou de conjugaison. Thèse de Médecine, Montpellier

  52. Thillier M (1952) Aspects radiologiques des “coincements” interapophysaires des vertèbres lombaires. J Radiol 33:425

    Google Scholar 

  53. Ullrich CG, Binet EF, Samecki MG (1980) Quantitative assessment of the lumbar spinal canal by computed tomography. Radiology 134:137–143

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Verbiest M (1954) A radicular syndrome from developmental narrowing of in lumbar vertebral canal. J Bone Joint Surg (Br) 36:230–237

    Google Scholar 

  55. Weimstein PR, Ehni G, Wilson CB (1977) Lumbar spondylosis. Diagnosis. Management and surgical treatment. Years Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, London

    Google Scholar 

  56. Williams PC, Yglesias L (1933) Lumbosacral facetectomy for post-fusion persistant sciatica. J Bone Joint Surg 15:579–590

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Anatomie du Pr. Senegas, Université Bordeaux II, 146, rue Léo Saignat, F-33076, Bordeaux, France

    J. M. Vital, B. Lavignolle & J. Senegas

  2. Service de Neuroradiologie du Pr. Caillé, Tripode, Bordeaux, France

    N. Grenier & R. Malgat

  3. Laboratoire du Pr Ducassou, Université Bordeaux II, Bordeaux, France

    F. Rouais

Authors
  1. J. M. Vital
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Lavignolle
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Grenier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. F. Rouais
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. R. Malgat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. J. Senegas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Vital, J.M., Lavignolle, B., Grenier, N. et al. Anatomy of the lumbar radicular canal. Anat. Clin 5, 141–151 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01798999

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01798999

Key words

Search

Navigation