Which statement correctly matches where the spinal cord ends in the horse, dog, and cat?

Which statement correctly matches where the spinal cord ends in the horse, dog, and cat?

• A. Equine: L3; Canine: L5-L6; Feline: Sacrum
• B. Equine: L3; Canine: Sacrum; Feline: L5-L6
• C. Equine: Sacrum; Canine: L3; Feline: L5-L6
• D. Equine: L5-L6; Canine: L3; Feline: Sacrum

Answer: (A)

The end of the spinal cord, the conus medullaris, sits at different vertebral levels across species. In horses it terminates around the third lumbar vertebra, meaning the cord ends relatively high and the lower nerves form the cauda equina. In dogs the end is a bit more caudal, around the fifth to sixth lumbar vertebra. In cats, the cord ends even more caudally, at the sacral level, so the nerve roots extending to the pelvis and hind limbs originate from the sacrum and beyond. This aligns with the statement that equine ends at L3, canine ends at L5-L6, and feline ends at the sacrum. The other options mix these levels and don’t match the species-specific termination pattern.

The end of the spinal cord, the conus medullaris, sits at different vertebral levels across species. In horses it terminates around the third lumbar vertebra, meaning the cord ends relatively high and the lower nerves form the cauda equina. In dogs the end is a bit more caudal, around the fifth to sixth lumbar vertebra. In cats, the cord ends even more caudally, at the sacral level, so the nerve roots extending to the pelvis and hind limbs originate from the sacrum and beyond. This aligns with the statement that equine ends at L3, canine ends at L5-L6, and feline ends at the sacrum. The other options mix these levels and don’t match the species-specific termination pattern.