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\n\n*From [Radiopedia](https://prod-images-static.radiopaedia.org/images/53655832/Gray-square.001_big_gallery.jpeg)*\n\nBetween each vertebral body in all of the regions (except the sacrum) is a vertebral disc. Furthermore, along the posterior aspect of each vertebral body lies the spinal cord. At each vertebral body, spinal nerves leave the spinal cord through openings between vertebral bodies called foramina.\n\n![](\"https://files.miamineurosciencecenter.com/media/filer_public_thumbnails/filer_public/78/1e/781e78be-8980-466f-8a82-83a5c8350770/herniated_disc_larger.jpg__720.0x600.0_q85_subject_location-360%2C300_subsampling-2.jpg\")
\n\n*From [Miami Neuroscience Center](https://miamineurosciencecenter.com/en/conditions/herniated-disc/)*\n\nCompression of the spinal cord or any of the nerves can cause pain to patients. Things that can cause compression of these nerves/the spinal cord include a bulging vertebral disc, degenerative changes in the bones itself (leading them to grow protrusions/become compressed), trauma, or thickening of the ligaments surrounding the spinal cord.\n\n### Foraminal Narrowing Overview\n\nThe spinal cord has spinal nerves that exit the spinal canal through openings called foramina. The foramina are best viewed in the sagittal plane. Sometimes these openings can become compressed, resulting in foraminal narrowing. This compression results in pain for patients along the nerve distribution that is downstream of the compression. \n\nOn the left, the image shows a sagittal MR slice where the foramina are visible. Crosshairs show where the foramina exit the spinal canal. On the right, the image shows our grading criteria for designating the degree of compression (note for this challenge, Normal/Mild is one label).\n\n\n\n
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