An
analysis of the lengths of spinal cords was conducted using data from 129
adult Thais, 73 males and 56 females, who ranged in age from 20 to 95 years
with an average age of 66.6 16.6 years. The lengths of spinal cords ranged
from 30 to 49 cm with a mean of 40.8 3.2 cm. The average cord length in
males (42.3 2.5 cm) was significantly greater than that in females (38.9
3.1 cm; p<0.05). The site of caudal termination of the spinal cord varied
from the middle third of the twelfth thoracic vertebra to the upper third
of the third lumbar vertebra. The mean level of cord termination was located
opposite the intervertebral disc between the first and the second lumbar
vertebrae, and there was no significant difference between the sexes (p>0.05).
The length of the vertebral column was also measured in 16 cases. It ranged
from 64.5 to 70.5 cm with an average of 68.4 3.5 cm. There was a significant
correlation between the length of the spinal cord and the length of the
vertebral column (p<0.01).