It is a process of the dorsal body cavity formed by alignment of the vertebral foramina.

The vertebral canal is enclosed anteriorly by the vertebral bodies, intervertebral discs, and the posterior longitudinal ligament; it is enclosed posteriorly by the vertebral laminae and the ligamenta flava; laterally, it is incompletely enclosed by the pedicles with the interval between two adjacent pedicles on either side creating an intervertebral foramen (allowing the passage of the spinal nerves and radicular blood vessels).

The epidural space contains loose fatty tissue, and a network of large, thin-walled blood vessels called the internal vertebral venous plexuses.

[citation needed] Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the canal which can occur in any region of the spine and can be caused by a number of factors.

It may result in cervical myelopathy[4] if the narrowed canal impinges on the spinal cord itself.