Embryology and anatomy: Spine/spinal cord

Development of The spine and spinal cord begins during The third week of gestation. Early development includes formation of primi-tive neural tissue notochord development, and of The axes of The embryo The axial skeleton eventually arises from The somites. Normal vertebral and neural formation is depen-dent upon development of these early structures to induce The adjacent cell lines to form The neural arch and distinct vertebral bodies. Errors in The formation of these structures lead to induction failure and subsequent spinal dysraphism and congenital scoliosis. Mesodermal vertebrae eventually give way to a cartilaginous anlage which then ossifies forming The mature vertebral column. Neurocentral synchondroses allow continued growth of The spinal canal and secondary ver-tebral ossifi cation centers persist until The third decade of life.