Vertebral Column and Vertebrae Overview

Vertebral column (columna vertebralis) is the central axis of the skeleton. It consists of vertebrae (vertebrae), which are the individual bony segments of the vertebral column.
Each vertebra consists of a vertebral body (corpus vertebrae), a vertebral arch (arcus vertebrae), and seven processes.
Pedicle (pediculus arcus vertebrae) connects the vertebral arch to the vertebral body.
Intervertebral foramen (foramen intervertebrale) formed by the notches on the pedicles of adjacent vertebral arches.
Vertebral foramen (foramen vertebrale) forms the vertebral canal.
Spinous process (processus spinosus) projects posteriorly from the vertebral arch.
Transverse process (processus transversus) projects laterally from the vertebral arch.
Superior articular process (processus articularis superior) and inferior articular process (processus articularis inferior) connect vertebrae to each other.
Superior articular facet (facies articularis) and inferior articular facet (facies articularis inferior) are the smooth surfaces on the articular processes.

Cervical vertebrae (vertebrae cervicales) are the seven vertebrae in the neck region.
They are characterized by a foramen transversarium (foramen transversarium) in each transverse process.
Atlas (atlas) is the first cervical vertebra. It has no vertebral body and has two lateral masses (massa lateralis atlantis) connected by an anterior arch (arcus anterior atlantis) and a posterior arch (arcus posterior atlantis).
- Atlas has a superior articular surface (facies articularis superior) that articulates with the occipital condyles of the skull.
- Facet for dens (fovea dentis) is a concavity on the anterior arch for articulation with the dens of the axis.
Axis (axis) is the second cervical vertebra. It has a dens axis (odontoid process) that projects superiorly from the vertebral body.
Vertebra prominens (vertebra prominens) is the seventh cervical vertebra, which has a large, prominent spinous process.

Thoracic vertebrae (vertebrae thoracicae) are the twelve vertebrae in the chest region.
They are characterized by:
- Superior costal facet (fovea cotalis superior) and inferior costal facet (fovea costalis inferior), on the vertebral body, for articulation with the heads of ribs.
- Transverse costal facet (fovea costalis processus transversalis) on each transverse process for articularion with the tubercles of ribs.

Lumbar vertebrae (vertebrae lumbales) are the five vertebrae in the lower back.
They are characterized by large, kidney-shaped vertebral bodies and long, slender transverse processes.
Costal process (processus costalis) are the small projections located on the posterior side of the transverse processes.

Sacrum is a triangular bone formed by the fusion of five sacral vertebrae (os sacrum, vertebrae sacrales).
- Base (basis ossis sacri) is the superior part of the sacrum that articulates with the fifth lumbar vertebra.
- Promontory (promontorium) is the projection formed by the anterior margin of the base of the sacrum.
- Ala ossis sacri are the expanded lateral portions of the sacrum.
- Lateral part (pars lateralis) has the auricular surface (facies auricularis) for articulation with the ilium of the pelvis.
- The pelvic surface (facies pelvica) is the anterior surface of the sacrum with anterior sacral foramina (foramina sacralis anteriora).
- Dorsal surface (facies dorsalis) is the posterior surface of the sacrum with posterior sacral foramina (foramina sacralia dorsalia).
- Sacral canal (canalis sacralis) is the continuation of the vertebral canal.
- Sacral hiatus (hiatus sacralis) is the opening at the inferior end of the sacral canal.
Coccyx is a small, triangular bone formed by the fusion of four coccygeal vertebrae (os coccygis, coccyx, vertebrae coccygeae).

Ribs (costae) are bony arches that form the thoracic cage. There are 12 pairs of ribs.
True ribs (costae verae) are the first seven ribs, connected to the sternum by their own costal cartilage (cartilago costae).
False ribs (costae spuriae) are the 8th to 10th ribs, share costal cartilage with the 7th rib to attach to the sternum.
Floating ribs (costae fluctuantes) are the 11th and 12th ribs , do not attach to sternum at all.
Each rib has:
- Head (caput costae) with an articular facet (facies articularis capitis costae) for articulation with the vertebral body.
- Collum (collum costae) is the neck of the rib.
- Body (corpus costae) is the main part of the rib.
- Tubercle (tuberculum costae) is a small projection on the posterior surface of the rib with the articular facet (facies articularis tuberculi costae) for articulation with the transverse process of a vertebra.
- Costal groove (sulcus costae) on the inferior surface of the rib that houses the intercostal vessels and nerve.

Sternum (sternum) is a flat bone that forms the anterior part of the thoracic cage.
It consists of three parts:
- Manubrium of sternum (manubrium sterni) is the superior part of the sternum with the clavicular notch (incisura clavicularis) for articulation with the clavicle and the jugular notch (incisura jugularis) .
- Sternal angle (angulus sterni) is the junction of the manubrium and the body of the sternum.
- Body (corpus sterni) is the main part of the sternum.
- Xiphoid process (processus xiphoideus) is the inferior, small, cartilaginous part of the sternum.
Costal notches (incisurae costales) on the lateral margins of the sternum provide articulation points for the costal cartilages of true ribs.

Thoracic cage (cavea thoracis) is formed by the thoracic vertebrae, ribs, and sternum.
It protects the heart and lungs.
Thoracic cavity (cavitas thoracis) is the space enclosed by the thoracic cage.
Superior thoracic aperture (apertura thoracis superior) is the opening at the top of the thoracic cage.
Inferior thoracic aperture (apertura thoracis inferior) is the opening at the bottom of the thoracic cage.
Pulmonary groove (sulcus pulmonalis) in the costal groove of the ribs.
Costal arch (arcus costalis) is formed by the cartilages of the lower ribs.
Intercostal space (spatium intercostale) is the space between the ribs.
Infrasternal angle (angulus infrasternalis) is the angle formed by the inferior margins of the costal arches.