What is the distal end level of the spinal cord in adults?

The correct answer is the level of the distal end of the spinal cord in adults, which typically terminates at the second lumbar vertebra, or L2.

The spinal cord does not extend the full length of the vertebral column. In adults, it generally ends at the L1-L2 intervertebral disc, and this is often used to state that the distal end of the spinal cord is at the L2 level. However, it is most accurately recognized that it terminates slightly higher in relation to the vertebrae due to the natural elongation of the vertebral column during growth, resulting in the conus medullaris ending at L2.

Understanding the positioning of the spinal cord is crucial for medical procedures such as lumbar punctures, where accurate knowledge of the spinal cord's end is necessary to avoid injury.