Where is the conus medullaris tip located on the MRI of the lumbar spine?

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Multiple Choice

Where is the conus medullaris tip located on the MRI of the lumbar spine?

The conus medullaris is the tapered end of the spinal cord, and in adults it typically ends around the L1–L2 vertebral level. On an MRI of the lumbar spine you would expect the tip of the conus to be near L1–L2, with the cauda equina nerve roots continuing below. There is some normal variation, but levels like T11–T12 are much higher than usual, while L4–L5 would be well below the typical termination.

The conus medullaris is the tapered end of the spinal cord, and in adults it typically ends around the L1–L2 vertebral level. On an MRI of the lumbar spine you would expect the tip of the conus to be near L1–L2, with the cauda equina nerve roots continuing below. There is some normal variation, but levels like T11–T12 are much higher than usual, while L4–L5 would be well below the typical termination.

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