Vertebral canal

The vertebral canal is a bony structure formed by the vertebral foramina of the vertebrae stacked on top of each other forming a strong pillar for the support of the head and trunk.

The vertebral canal houses and protects the spinal cord, spinal meninges, and associated vasculature. The vertebral canal extends from the foramen magnum at the base of the skull to the sacrum (in the sacrum, the vertebral canal is called sacral canal). The dimensions and morphology of the vertebral canal can vary significantly among individuals and can be influenced by factors such as age, sex, and specific vertebral levels (it is large and triangular in those parts of the column which enjoy the greatest freedom of movement, viz., the cervical and lumbar regions; and is small and rounded in the thoracic region, where motion is more limited).