Lumbar lateral recess and intervertebral foramen radio-anatomical study

The recent developments in Computed Tomography (CT) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) allow an accurate analysis of the anatomical structures of th e lateral recess and of the neural foramen (vertebral body, pedicle, zygapo physeal joints, ligamentum flavum, intervertebral disk) and their contents (spinal ganglion, nerves roots, foraminal veins, surrounding fat). The aim of this study is 1) to describe the normal anatomy and Variants of the late ral recess and of the lumbar neural foremen, and 2) to present the main dis eases involving this anatomical area.