HUMAN ANATOMY BY CATEGORY
Head Anatomy
Neck Anatomy
Shoulder Anatomy
Back Anatomy
Chest Anatomy
Abdominal Anatomy
Hip Anatomy
Upper Leg Anatomy
Knee Anatomy
Lower Leg Anatomy
Ankle Anatomy
Foot Anatomy
Upper Arm Anatomy
Elbow Anatomy
Forearm Anatomy
Wrist Anatomy
Hand Anatomy
Skin Anatomy
Internal Organ Anatomy
Vertebrae Anatomy
Overview
The vertebral column or
spine
consists of 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, the sacrum and the coccyx. Each individual vertebrae shares some uniform structural characteristics, although each type has specific features relevant to its location and purpose in the spine. Each vertebra has a body in the front that connects to the
vertebral arch
, which then creates the space in which the
spinal cord
travels through. From the vertebral arch there is the spinous process, a tail of bone projecting along the center line of the spine, as well as the transverse processes which extend out from either side of the vertebral arch. Both the spinous and transverse processes act as levers during movement. Please note the only exception is the C1 vertebrae, also known as the “atlas”, which does not have a body or spinous process.
Related Injuries
-
Neck Fracture
Related Surgeries
-
Vertebral Fracture Repair
-
Spinal Fusion
Referenced Material
Anatomica’s Body Atlas. (2002). San Diego, CA: Thunder Bay Press (pg. 102-103)