Central canal

The central canal is a narrow, cerebrospinal fluid-filled tube that extends from the fourth ventricle, passing through the medulla oblongata and running the entire length of the spinal cord until the conus medullaris, where it expands to form the terminal ventricle. It is lined with ependymal cells and surrounded by the anterior and posterior gray commissures of the spinal cord's gray matter (lamina X). The central canal forms part of the ventricular system of the central nervous system, however, unlike other ventricular spaces, it lacks a choroid plexus.