Anterior median fissure of spinal cord | |
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![]() A spinal nerve with its anterior and posterior roots. | |
![]() Transverse section of the spinal cord in the mid-thoracic region. | |
Details | |
Identifiers | |
Latin | fissura mediana anterior medullae spinalis |
TA98 | A14.1.02.007 |
TA2 | 6053 |
FMA | 83735 |
Anatomical terminology |
The anterior median fissure of the spinal cord is a deep midline groove of the anterior/ventral spinal cord.[1]: 486 It divides the white matter of the anterior spinal cord nearly in two.[1]: 487 The spinal pia mater extends into the fissure to line the surfaces of the spinal cord.[1]: 453
It has an average depth of about 3 mm, but this is increased in the lower part of the spinal cord. It contains a double fold of pia mater. Its floor is formed by a transverse band of white matter - the anterior white commissure - which is perforated by blood vessels on their way to or from the central part of the spinal cord.[citation needed]
The anterior median fissure provides a groove in which the anterior spinal artery sits.[citation needed]
The anterior median fissure may be identified on computerized tomography (CT) myelograms, but more commonly on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The AMF has a characteristic appearance on MRI scans that differs from the MRI appearance of the central canal.[citation needed]