Why Is The Site Of The Lumbar Puncture Needle Procedure 3-4 Or 4-5 Lumbar Intervertebral?

Lumbar puncture is usually performed between the 3rd to 4th or 4th to 5th lumbar vertebrae, where it is not possible to injure the spinal cord, and the long cauda equina nerve roots are not easily pierced as they swim within the cerebrospinal fluid. It is a safe site for lumbar puncture.

The spinal cord is part of the central nervous system. Many paired nerves (called spinal nerves) emanate from the sides of the spinal cord and are distributed to the skin, muscles and internal organs of the body. The spinal cord is the pathway between the peripheral nerves and the brain. It is also a low-level center for many simple reflex activities.

The spinal cord is located in the spinal canal and is cylindrical, slightly deviated anteriorly and posteriorly, and is surrounded by a membrane which follows the curvature of the spine. The upper end of the spinal cord is connected to the medulla oblongata at the level of the greater occipital foramen, and the lower end is flush with the lower edge of the first lumbar vertebra, about 40 to 45 cm long. the end of the spinal cord becomes thin and is called the spinal cord cylinder. From the spinal cord column downward, the spinal cord extends into a long and thin terminal filament, which is already a thin plexus without neural tissue, wrapped by the dura at the level of the second sacral vertebra and ending at the back of the coccyx.