During development, inside the womb, the skeletal parts of the spine grow at a faster rate than does the spinal cordThe main nerve trunk running down the spinal canal and connecting the individual’s mind and consciousness to the rest of his or her body. It is about the size of a person’s little finger, in diameter. It cannot repair itself if damaged.. This differential rate of growth continues after birth, into early childhood. At birth the lower-most part of the spinal cordThe main nerve trunk running down the spinal canal and connecting the individual’s mind and consciousness to the rest of his or her body. It is about the size of a person’s little finger, in diameter. It cannot repair itself if damaged. (known as the conusThe spinal cord is roughly cylindrical in shape, as it passes from the base of the brain, down along the spinal canal. At its lower end it tapers into a roughly conical shape. This part of the spinal cord is referred to as the conus. It contains nerve cells that supply important body functions such as bladder and bowel control, as well as sensation to the “private parts”.) lies level with the 3rd lumbarThe small of the back, below the ribcage or, in neurological practice, the spine in this region. vertebra. By late adolescence it has risen to a point level with the 1st lumbarThe small of the back, below the ribcage or, in neurological practice, the spine in this region. vertebra, in which position it remains throughout adult life. Sometimes, however, the conusThe spinal cord is roughly cylindrical in shape, as it passes from the base of the brain, down along the spinal canal. At its lower end it tapers into a roughly conical shape. This part of the spinal cord is referred to as the conus. It contains nerve cells that supply important body functions such as bladder and bowel control, as well as sensation to the “private parts”. does not rise in this way and is then described as being low-lying, or tethered. Sometimes such tethering can generate pain and neurological symptomsThese include disturbances of motor functions (e.g. power, strength & co-ordination), alterations of body senses (e.g. sight, hearing or touch) and changes in consciousness (e.g. blackouts or seizures)., particularly during the adolescent growth spurt. Sometimes, therefore, there may be a role for surgical “untethering”ofalow-lyingcordinanadolescentpatient. Itremainsamatterof uncertainty as to whether such surgery has a role in later adult life.