Title: cauda equina
Long Title: IUPAC Gold Book - cauda equina
DOI: 10.1351/goldbook.11664
Status: current

Definition
Bundle of long spinal nerve roots arising from the end of the spinal cord and filling the lower part of the spinal canal (from approximately the thoraco-lumbar junction downwards).

Note
These nerves contribute to the innervation of the pelvic organs and lower limbs to include motor innervation of the hips, knees, ankles, feet, and internal and external anal sphincter. In addition, the cauda equina extends to sensory innervation of the perineum and, partially, parasympathetic innervation of the bladder.

Related Terms
- nerve roots: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11915
- parasympathetic: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11993

Source
- PAC, 2015, 87, 841. 'IUPAC Glossary of terms used in neurotoxicology (IUPAC Recommendations 2015)' on page 855 (https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2015-0103)

Other Outputs
- html: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11664/html
- json: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11664/json
- xml: https://goldbook.iupac.org/terms/view/11664/xml

Citation: Citation: 'cauda equina' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. 10.1351/goldbook.11664
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Accessed: 2026-05-15T08:53:22+00:00