Why is there no danger of striking the spinal cord in the lumbar area of the back to perfrom a spinal tap?

?2010-09-12T11:44:49Z

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The needle is inserted in the lumbar region, the low back, which is well below the spinal cord.

MrNeutral2010-09-13T03:41:52Z

i have always wondered that also. the spinal cord breaks up into individual nerves called the cauda equina (horse tail). The needle pushes them aside.