Final answer:
The cauda equina is a bundle of nerves at the end of the spinal cord, resembling a horse's tail. It is longer in children due to continued spinal growth, while it is shorter in adults as the spinal cord growth slows down.
Step-by-step explanation:
The cauda equina is a bundle of nerves that resembles a horse's tail and is located at the end of the spinal cord.
It is formed by the nerves that emerge from the lower spinal cord and pass through the intervertebral foramina.
In children, the cauda equina is longer relative to the vertebral column because the spine continues to grow as the child develops.
In adults, the cauda equina is shorter because the spinal cord does not grow significantly after the first few years of life, while the skeleton continues to grow.