Normal Spine Anatomy and Imaging

This chapter outlines the basic and essential anatomy of the spine. It begins with osseous and ligamentous anatomy which are grouped by their location: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. Conventional anatomy is followed by a brief overview of variant anatomy, which is crucial in discerning pathology from physiology. The next section details the spinal canal and cord, including layers and spaces of the meninges, spinal parenchyma, and the major vascular supply. The chapter concludes with a description of various imaging modalities such as routine and dedicated radiographic views, CT, and routine MRI sequences. Commonly encountered spinal MRI artifacts are also covered, as they can be challenging to identify and mimic pathology.