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Department of Neurosurgery
October 1, 2022
PubMed

Not Just an Anchor: The Human Filum Terminale Contains Stretch Sensitive and Nociceptive Nerve Endings and Responds to Electrical Stimulation With Paraspinal Muscle Activation.

Publication

Klinge PM, McElroy A, Leary OP, Donahue JE, Mumford A, Brinker T, Gokaslan ZL. Neurosurgery. 2022 Oct 1;91(4):618-624. doi:10.1227/neu.0000000000002081. Epub 2022 Jul 21. PMID: 35852974; PMCID: PMC9447435.

The fibrous filum terminale (FT), previously thought to be non-functional, was studied in patients undergoing surgery for tethered cord syndrome. Microscopy revealed sensory nerve endings within the FT’s core resembling mechanoreceptors and pain receptors found in skin and muscles. Electrical stimulation of the FT triggered muscle activity above and below the stimulated area. This suggests that the FT has functional sensory nerves, potentially serving as a proprioceptive element and contributing to back pain in spinal disorders.

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Not Just an Anchor: The Human Filum Terminale Contains Stretch Sensitive and Nociceptive Nerve Endings and Responds to Electrical Stimulation With Paraspinal Muscle Activation.