Imaging anatomy of the lateral lumbar spinal canal

This article reviews the normal anatomy of the bony and soft tissue structures of the lateral lumbar spinal canal. Thorough knowledge of these imaging anatomy helps in making the correct diagnosis of the lumbar spinal lesions. CT and MRI are excellent tools to diagnose lateral lumbar spinal canal stenosis. Both CT and MRI provide the accurate measurements of the midsagittal and lateral spinal canals and show the abnormalities of the nerve root course. This review provides anatomic and radiographic descriptions of the lateral lumbar spinal canal and the anatomically related joints.