This article is a crash course on the basics of spinal bones.
The spinal column is made of 24 individual vertebrae that go from the skull to the sacrum.
The thoracic spine has 12 vertebrae labeled T1-T12 and also connect to the ribcage.
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The lumbar area contains 5 vertebrae labeled L1-L5 and connects to the pelvis.
Vertebra
The term ‘vertebra’ refers to one spinal bone.
‘Vertebrae’ is the plural form of the word.
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A vertebra consists of a cylindrical body in front and a bony ring in the back.
This is what gives basic weight support to the spine.
The long tunnel formed by the inside of the rings of all 24 vertebrae is called the spinal canal.
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This is where the spinal cord passes through.
The neuralforamina are constructed from archways on the sides of the adjacent vertebrae that are stacked together.
As discussed above, the vertebral body is a large roundish structure that provides weight support through the column.
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The vertebrae stack on top of one another at the vertebral bodies.
In between the vertebral bodies are theintervertebral discs, which are responsible for shock absorption during movement.
They do this by acting as a movable cushion between thevertebral bodies.
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Common disc problems include disc degeneration and herniated disc.
An annular tear is another injury that may lead to aherniated disc, but not always.
It also contributes to thevertebral endplate, which can be another site of degenerative spinal changes.
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At each level (called a “segment,") there’s a right and left facet joint.
The processes that make up the facet joint are called the “articular processes.”
Facet joints are also called the zygapophyseal joints.
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(Middle-aged people, especially those who are overweight are also at risk for a pars defect).
Spinous and transverse processes look a little like fingers.
On each vertebra, there are two transverse processes and one spinous process.
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These processes provide sites to which back muscles and ligaments attach.
The pedicle lies between the back of the vertebral body and the transverse process.
There are two pedicles per vertebra, one on each side.
There are two laminae, located on either side of the spinous process.
This can happen in the case of spinal stenosis.
One commonly given surgery is called a laminectomy, but there are others, as well.
Examples of common back problems involving the spinal nerve root include herniated disc and spinal stenosis.
Spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord at each level.
Spinal nerve roots exit the spaces (called intervertebral foramina) created between two adjacent, stacked vertebrae.
The spinal cord ends after the first lumbar (low back area) vertebra.
This bundle is called the cauda equina.
It is where back muscles and ligaments attach to the spine.
Each vertebra has one spinous process.
There are two transverse processes on each vertebra, one on each side (left and right).
There are 24 vertebrae in the human spinal column.
Stacked on top of each other, the vertebrae reach from the skull to the sacrum.
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Washington University Physicians.Spondylolysis/Pars Defect.
