Editing Epidural space (section)

{{Short description|Space between the dura mater and vertebrae}}
{{hatnote|For the anesthetic procedure and route of drug administration, see [[Epidural administration]].}}
{{Infobox anatomy
| Name        = Epidural space
| Latin       = spatium epidurale, <br>spatium extradurale, <br>cavum epidurale
| Image       = Gray767.png
| Caption     = The medulla spinalis and its membranes
| Width       = 120
| Image2      =
| Caption2    =
| Precursor   =
| System      =
| Artery      =
| Vein        =
| Nerve       =
| Lymph       =
}}

In [[anatomy]], the '''epidural space''' is the potential space between the [[dura mater]] and [[vertebrae]] ([[Vertebral column|spine]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Clinical neuroanatomy|last=Waxman|first=Stephen G.|date=2010|publisher=[[McGraw-Hill Medical]]|isbn=9780071603997|edition=26th|location=New York|oclc=435703701}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Neuroanatomy through clinical cases|last=Blumenfeld|first=Hal|date=2010|publisher=Sinauer Associates|isbn=9780878930586|edition=2nd|location=Sunderland, Mass.|oclc=473478856}}</ref>

The anatomy term "epidural space" has its origin in the [[Ancient Greek]] language; {{Lang|grc|ἐπί}}, "on, upon" + [[dura mater]] also known as "epidural cavity", "extradural space" or "peridural space". In humans the epidural space contains [[lymphatics]], spinal nerve roots, [[loose connective tissue]], [[adipose tissue]], small [[arteries]], [[dural venous sinuses]] and a network of [[internal vertebral venous plexuses]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Richardson|first1=Jonathan|last2=Groen|first2=Gerbrand J.|date=2005-06-01|title=Applied epidural anatomy|url=https://academic.oup.com/bjaed/article/5/3/98/278715|journal=Continuing Education in Anaesthesia, Critical Care & Pain|language=en|volume=5|issue=3|pages=98–100|doi=10.1093/bjaceaccp/mki026|issn=1743-1816|doi-access=free}}</ref>