Final answer:
The tapered, terminal part of the spinal cord, or the conus medullaris, is located at the L1 and L2 vertebral levels in the upper lumbar region. This is just above the cauda equina, where the spinal nerves extend beyond the end of the spinal cord.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tapered, terminal part of the spinal cord is typically found at the upper lumbar vertebral levels, specifically around the L1 and L2 vertebrae. This region of the spinal cord is referred to as the conus medullaris, which marks the end of the spinal cord proper. Below this level, the spinal nerves continue to extend as a bundle called the cauda equina, resembling a horse's tail, until they reach their respective intervertebral foramina to exit the vertebral column.
The spinal cord does not run the entire length of the vertebral column. During development, the skeletal system outgrows the spinal cord, which generally stops growing in length after the first or second year of life. As a result, the lower spinal nerves must travel a longer distance before exiting the column, forming the cauda equina. The number and arrangement of spinal nerves are organized into segments corresponding with the regions of the spinal column: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.