This animation displays the cross-sectional view of the thoracic spine with the development of an epidural abscess. Anatomy highlighted in this view includes the spinal cord, anterior spinal artery, dura, epidural space, and T7-T12 of the thoracic spine. When bacteria travels down the anterior spinal artery to the spinal cord, it causes pus and inflammation to develop in the epidural space. The pus grows and evolves into an abscess over time and can result in the compression of the spinal cord.