title: Anatomic considerations of the posterolateral lumbar disk region.
abstract: Sixteen embalmed cadavers were dissected to determine the location of the lumbar nerve root and sympathetic trunk with reference to the superior border of transverse process. In the posterolateral lumbar disk region, a safe zone was found between the anterior limit of the lumbar nerve and the posterior limit of the sympathetic trunk. It has a transverse dimension of 22 mm at the T12-L1 disk region and 25 mm at the L4-L5 disk region. The only exception to this was the genitofemoral nerve running close to the lateral margin of the L2-L3 disk. The study provides an understanding of the posterolateral orientation of the lumbar nerves and sympathetic trunk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Ebraheim
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Rezcallah
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Yeasting
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017586:Diskectomy / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology