Vertebrae Anatomy and Structure

Regional Vertebrae

• The human spine consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 5 fused sacrum vertebrae, and 4 fused coccyx vertebrae.

Typical Vertebrae

• A typical vertebra has a body, which is the anterior, weight-bearing portion.
• The vertebral arch is located posterior to the body and contains the vertebral foramen, which houses the spinal cord.
• Pedicles are short, thick supports for the vertebral arch.
• Laminae are the plates extending posteriorly from the pedicles.
• Transverse processes are lateral projections for muscle attachment.
• The spinous process is a single posterior projection for muscle attachment.
• Superior articular facets are two superior surfaces on the vertebral arch.
• Inferior articular facets are two inferior surfaces on the vertebral arch.
• Intervertebral foramina are openings formed by the superior and inferior vertebral notches.

Cervical Vertebrae

• Cervical vertebrae have a small body, but are wider from side to side.
• The superior surface of the body is concave, with a more anterior-posterior orientation.

Thoracic Vertebrae

• No specific details mentioned about thoracic vertebrae.

Cervical Vertebrae

• Articular process: superior facets directed superoposteriorly, inferior facets directed inferoanteriorly, with some being horizontal.
• Spinous process: short (C3-C6), bifid (C2-C6), with C7 being longer and known as the "vertebrae prominens".

Thoracic Vertebrae

• Body: heart-shaped, with one or two costal facets that articulate with the head of a rib.
• Vertebral foramen: circular and smaller than those in cervical and lumbar vertebrae.
• Transverse processes: long, strong, and extend posterolaterally, with length diminishing from T1-T7 and T1-T10 having articulation with the rib.
• Articular processes: superior facets directed posteriorly and slightly laterally, inferior facets directed anteriorly and slightly medially.
• Spinous processes: long, sloping posteroinferiorly, with tips extending to the level of the vertebral body below.

Lumbar Vertebrae

• Body: kidney-shaped when viewed superiorly.
• Vertebral foramen: triangular, larger than in thoracic vertebrae and smaller than in cervical vertebrae.
• Transverse processes: superior facets directed posteromedially, inferior facets directed anterodorsally, with a mammillary process on the posterior surface of each superior articular process.
• Spinous process: short, sturdy, thick, broad, and hatchet-shaped.