Conus Medullaris Level — FRCA Primary MCQ

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EasyAnatomyConus Medullaris LevelFRCA Primary

At approximately which vertebral level does the spinal cord typically terminate in an adult?

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Correct answer: E — L1-L2

The correct answer is **D: L1-L2**. In adults, the spinal cord tapers to form the conus medullaris, which most commonly terminates around the L1 vertebral body and is conventionally described clinically as lying at approximately the L1-L2 level. Below the conus, lumbar and sacral nerve roots descend within the lumbar cistern as the cauda equina. T12 is generally too high for the typical termination level. L3-L4 is a commonly selected interspace for lumbar puncture or spinal anaesthesia, rather than the normal level of cord termination. L5 and S1 contain descending cauda equina roots, not the intact spinal cord. Anatomical variation occurs, but L1-L2 remains the standard FRCA answer.

Reference: University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust. Essence of Clinical Procedures for Medical Students, Chapter 5: Lumbar Puncture, Applied Anatomy. 2014. https://uhmeded.uhcw.nhs.uk/Portals/0/5_Lumbar_Puncture.pdf