The spinal epidural space

The validity of the concept of an epidural 'space' within the vertebral can al is questioned. An attempt is made to locate the 'space' morphologically, developmentally, and topographically. Following Parkin and Harrison (1985) , it is agreed that no actual 'space' exists in the intact living subject. It is suggested that the spinal epidural space satisfies the criteria of Ha ines (1991) to be considered a "true potential space." As such, and by anal ogy with other body cavities, it would be better termed the 'epidural cavit y', as it was in the 1983 edition of the Nomina Anatomica. Clin. Anat. 12.3 75-379, 1999. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.