How Many Vertebrae Are There In The Lumbar Spine – We know the vertebral column as the collection of bones that are stacked vertically on top of each other to form the spine. Each of these bones is called a vertebra (plural: vertebrae).

There are five distinct regions of the vertebral column where the vertebrae share distinct characteristics that allow them to form specific joints and produce movements. Each of these fields is assigned a letter and number as described below.

How Many Vertebrae Are There In The Lumbar Spine

You may also be interested in our Anatomy Flashcard Collection which includes over 2000 anatomy flashcards with advanced features such as spaced repetition. 🫁

How Many Vertebrae Make Up The Human Spine?

Before we describe each of these regions and some examples of atypical vertebrae, we will consider the similarities in their basic structure.

Almost all vertebrae in the human vertebral column have vertebral bodies. The vertebral body becomes larger and provides more stability as the vertebral column moves downward from the cervical region. This is, in part, due to the increased mass placed on each vertebral body.

Vertebrate bodies are surrounded by cortical (compact) bone. Within the cortical bone is a dense network of trabecular bone. This trabecular bone is important for hematopoiesis, or blood cell production, because it contains red bone marrow.

The vertebral bodies of two adjacent vertebrae are attached to the intervertebral disc. These discs help reduce shock as forces are transmitted through the vertebral column and contribute to improving the range of motion between the vertebrae.

How Many Spinal Cords Are In The Human Body?

They help form the lateral margin of the spinal canal, and give rise to four important structures:

The vertebral arch forms the posterior margin of the spinal canal. When the lamina and pedicles are referred to collectively, they are called the vertebral arch.

Articular processes are small bony protrusions extending from the junction between the pedicles and laminae. This process may extend superiorly to form the superior articular process, or inferiorly to form the inferior articular process.

The tips of these articular processes have articular facets, which form joints (zygapophyseal) with adjacent vertebrae to improve stability within the vertebral column.

What Is A Herniated Disc? (signs And Symptoms)

The transverse processes of the vertebral column are bony projections that arise from the same place as the articular processes and travel posteriorly.

They serve different purposes in different areas of the spine, such as carrying blood vessels or forming attachment sites for ribs.

The spinous processes are postero-inferior projections of bone that protrude from the midline posterior to the vertebral arch. They help limit movements in certain areas of the spine and are the site for many ligaments to attach.

Before introducing each vertebral region, we will explore the different joints in the vertebral column. Here, we focus on the common strengths of each region.

Spinal Spondylosis (cervical & Lumbar)

The inferior surface of the vertebral body is attached to an intervertebral disc, which is then attached to the superior surface of the vertebral body below it.

In each vertebra, there are two superior articular processes with facets and two inferior articular processes with facets. These form the zygapophyseal, or facet, joints of the vertebral column.

For example, the thoracic spine has an east-west orientation of the facets, which allows lateral movement but limits flexion and extension.

The anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments form a long line running from the cervical region to the sacrum. They attach to the anterior and posterior surfaces of the vertebral bodies, respectively. Their function is to limit excessive extension and flexion of the vertebral column, respectively.

Sacral Bone Pain

The ligamentum flavum attaches between the laminae of each vertebra. It is a very thick and strong ligament that limits excessive bending of the vertebral column.

The supraspinous ligament runs in a line from spinous process to spinous process, down the vertebral column. This limits excessive bending of the vertebral column.

Now that we’ve covered the general characteristics of most common vertebrae, we’ll discuss each vertebral region and highlight some of the characteristics that can uniquely identify the bones in that region. As we go, refer to these three images of the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spines to see the differences we’ll discuss.

Figure 5. Cervical vertebrae for comparison of thoracic and lumbar vertebrae. Note that this cervical vertebra does not have the bifid spinous process of a normal cervical vertebra.

What Is Lumbopelvic Rhythm? The Result Of Dissociation And Dysfunction Of Lumbopelvic Rhythm

The human vertebral column consists of seven cervical vertebrae. They are the highest-most vertebral column group, and have several identifying characteristics that are described in more detail in the atypical vertebrae article:

The transverse foramen has a separate transverse foramina (hole) in the cervical region. These transverse foramina allow the vertebral arteries to travel along the vertebral column before entering the skull through the foramen magnum.

The vertebral arteries usually enter the transverse foramen of C6-C1, but may also occasionally pass through the C7 transverse foramen.

Figure 5. Note that this cervical vertebra does not have the bifid spinous process of a normal cervical vertebra.

Vertebral Joints / Facet Joints: Anatomy

The human vertebral column consists of twelve thoracic vertebrae. They serve as the dorsal attachment site for the ribs, which form the majority of the lateral margin of the thoracic cavity (thorax) and line the thoracic inlet and outlet.

Each typical thoracic vertebra has two demi-facets (half-facets) located on the superior and inferior lateral sides of the thoracic vertebral body. They are positioned so that the adjacent thoracic vertebrae each articulate with a common rib.

Each normal rib will attach to a single transverse process to improve stability of the ribs and thoracic cage.

Vertebral vertebrae are the last of the individual vertebrae in the vertebral column. There are five lumbar vertebrae, and each provides important support to the body mass above the vertebral level. As a result, they have the largest vertebral bodies.

Spinal Curves: What Is The Ideal Shape Of The Spine?

Only a handful of spinal nerves remain to branch from the spinal cord in the lumbar region, and the lumbar vertebra has a small triangular vertebral foramen.

The sacrum is made up of 5 fused vertebrae that form an inverted triangle, with the base above the apex.

Co1 and Co2 are always present, but Co3 may be absent or separated from the other two coccygeal vertebrae.

There are no vertebral arches in the coccygeal vertebrae, and therefore, no vertebral canal can form in this region.

Spine Anatomy Basics

Figure 8. Illustration of the sacrum and coccyx as they sit along the sacroiliac joint at the base of the vertebral column.

Scoliosis refers to a lateral curvature of the spine that can occur in any vertebral region, but most commonly the thoracolumbar spine.

It can be brought on by improper posture from muscle or skeletal abnormalities and can be present at any age. It affects women more than men.

Signs and symptoms depend on location, but pain is common. In thoracic scoliosis, dyspnea and restrictive lung function patterns may be seen. In lumbar scoliosis, abdominal pain and ‘tightening’ of the abdominal viscera are common.

The Vertebral Column

Conservative therapy with physiotherapy, braces and exercise management can improve mild disease. More advanced disease may require surgical intervention.

Figure 9. Series of pictures depicting scoliosis. Far left: scoliosis before treatment. Note the discrepancy in lateral curvature of the thoracolumbar spine and interscapular height. Middle left: A brace used to treat scoliosis. Middle right: X-ray depicting the lateral curvature of the vertebral column. Far right: X-ray after treatment.

Kyphosis usually refers to the pathological and excessive bending of the primary spinal curves: the thoracic or sacral curves.

Thoracic kyphosis presents with a heavily hunched posture and back pain. It is usually a product of low bone mineral density leading to osteopenic or osteoporotic cross fractures of the thoracic vertebrae.

The Thoracic Spine: Anatomy, Function, And Common Injuries

Lordosis refers to the pathological and excessive extension of secondary spinal curves: cervical or lumbar curves.

Lumbar lordosis presents with anteriorly rotated hips and extra extension of the lumbar spine (a “open back”, or “saddleback”).

Common causes of lumbar lordosis include tight hip flexor and erector spinae muscle groups, pregnancy, and teenage growth.

Figure 10. Note the excessive anterior curvature of the patient’s vertebral column on the right, causing a stooped posture.

Lumbar Spine Injury

The superior half of the intervertebral disc sends organized sheets of type I collagen fibers to attach the base of the superior vertebral bodies; And the lower half of the intervertebral disc sends these organized sheets to the top of the inferior vertebral body.

Thus, the point of weakness in the intervertebral disc is the central portion of this (vertical) disc, where the disorganized type I collagen fibers are present. The most vulnerable part of the intervertebral disc is in the middle of the posterolateral portion, where the disc material can slip and protrude into the vertebral canal due to spinal cord or nerve compression.

The most common locations for disc herniation are the lower cervical regions and lower lumbar regions. In both regions, the primary complaint is shooting or radiating pain in the spine or limb movement. Later in the course of the disease, motor dysfunction may occur.

To assess for disc herniation in the lumbar region, a supine leg raise test was completed. Recurrence of symptoms in the first 30 degrees of hip flexion is a positive sign, and suggests the need for further workup for lumbar disc herniation.

Kyphosis: What It Is, Causes, Symptoms, Types & Treatment

Figure 11. The four stages of disc herniation. Depending on the severity of the injury, any

How many vertebrae are there in the human spine, lumbar spine vertebrae numbers, vertebrae in lumbar spine, how many vertebrae in the lumbar spine, how many vertebrae are there in the spine, how many vertebrae in lumbar spine, l6 vertebrae lumbar spine, lumbar spine vertebrae anatomy, lumbar spine vertebrae, how many cervical thoracic and lumbar vertebrae are there, how many vertebrae are in the spine, extra vertebrae in lumbar spine