UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY EQUINOCCIAL

FACULTY OF DENTISTRY

Theme: Vertebral column, parts of the vertebrae
Menbers: Kevin de la Torre
Elizabeth Guayasamn

The Vertebral Column and Vertebrae
Vertebral Column Sections
Vertebral Column
The Vertebra
Vertebral Column
The Vertebral Column (Spinal Column) supports the head
and encloses the spinal cord.
The spinal column is comprised of 26 individual bones,
these bones are referred to as vertebrae. The spinal
column is divided into 5 different areas containing groups
of vertebrae and are grouped as follows:
7 cervical vertebrae in the neck.
12 thoracic vertebrae in the upper back corresponding to
each pair of ribs.
5 lumbar vertebrae in the lower back.
5 sacral vertebrae which are fused together to form 1
bone called the sacrum.
4 coccygeal vertebrae that are fused together to form the
coccyx or tailbone.
The vertebrae are referred to by their name and number,
counting down from the top of the spinal column as
follows:
The cervical vertebrae are C1 - C7
The thoracic vertebrae are T1 T12

The lumbar vertebrae are L1 L5
The sacrum and coccyx do not have numbers and each is thought of as one bone. Spinal nerves
exit the sacrum and coccyx at levels (Foramen) within the main structure of each vertebra.
Function vertebrae
Function of the vertebral column is protection of the spinal cord.
Stiffening for the body and attachment for the pectoral and pelvic girdles and many muscles.
General Characteristics of a Vertebrae
A typical vertebra consists of two essential parts, an anterior segment - the body, and a
posterior part - the vertebral or neural arch; these enclose a foramen, the vertebral foramen.
The vertebral arch consists of a pair of pedicles and a pair of laminae, and supports seven
processes, four articular, two transverse, and
one spinous.
When the vertebrae are articulated with each
other the bodies form a strong pillar for the
support of the head and trunk, and the
vertebral foramina constitute a canal for the
protection of the medulla spinalis (spinal cord),
while between every pair of vertebrae are two
apertures, the intervertebral foramina, one on
either side, for the transmission of the spinal
nerves and vessels.
Body (corpus vertebrae): The body is the largest
part of a vertebra, and is more or less cylindrical
in shape. Its upper and lower surfaces are
flattened and rough, and give attachment to the
intervertebral fibrocartilages, and each presents
a rim around its circumference. In front, the
body is convex from side to side and concave
from above downward. Behind, it is flat from
above downward and slightly concave from side
to side. Its anterior surface presents a few small
apertures, for the passage of nutrient vessels;
on the posterior surface is a single large,
irregular aperture, or occasionally more than
one, for the exit of the basi-vertebral veins from
the body of the vertebra.
Pedicles (radices arci vertebrae): The pedicles
are two short, thick processes, which project
backward, one on either side, from the upper
part of the body, at the junction of its posterior
and lateral surfaces. The concavities above and
below the pedicles are named the vertebral

FIG. 1 - A typical thoracic vertebra, viewed
from above.

FIG. 2 Sagittal section of a lumbar
vertebra.

notches; and when the vertebrae are articulated, the notches of each contiguous pair of bones
form the intervertebral foramina, already referred to.
Laminae: The laminae are two broad plates directed backward and medial ward from the
pedicles. They fuse in the middle line posteriorly, and so complete the posterior boundary of
the vertebral foramen. Their upper borders and the lower parts of their anterior surfaces are
rough for the attachment of the ligamenta flava.
Processes - Spinous Process (processus spinosus): The spinous process is directed backward
and downward from the junction of the laminae, and serves for the attachment of muscles and
ligaments.
Articular Processes: The articular processes, two superior and two inferior, spring from the
junctions of the pedicles and laminae. The superior project upward, and their articular surfaces
are directed more or less backward; the inferior project downward, and their surfaces look
more or less forward. The articular surfaces are coated with hyaline cartilage.
Transverse Processes (processus transversi): The transverse processes, two in number, project
one at either side from the point where the lamina joins the pedicle, between the superior and
inferior articular processes. They serve for the attachment of muscles and
ligaments.
Structure of a Vertebra (Fig. 2): The body is composed of cancellous tissue, covered by a thin
coating of compact bone; the latter is perforated by numerous orifices, some of large size for
the passage of vessels; the interior of the bone is traversed by one or two large canals, for the
reception of veins, which converge toward a single large, irregular aperture, or several small
apertures, at the posterior part of the body. The thin bony lamellae of the cancellous tissue are
more pronounced in lines perpendicular to the upper and lower surfaces and are developed in
response to greater pressure in this direction (Fig. 2). The arch and processes projecting from it
have thick coverings of compact tissue.
First cervical vertebra (atlas)

Supports the skull ; thus its name. According to Greek mythology, Atlas supported Earth on
his shoulders.
Is the widest of the cervical vertebrae.
Has no body and no spine but consists of anterior and posterior arches and paired
transverse processes.
Articulates superiorly with the occipital condyles of the skull to form the atlanto-occipital
joints and inferiorly with the axis to form the atlantoaxial joints.

Second cervical vertebra (axis)

Has the smallest transverse process.
Is characterised by the dens (odontoid process) , which projects superiorly from the body
of the axis and articulates with the anterior arch of the atlas , thus forming the pivot
around which the atlas rotates. It is supported by the cruciform, apical, and alar ligaments
and the tectorial membrane.

Third to sixth cervical vertebrae

Are typical cervical vertebrae and have short spinous processes and transverse processes
with anterior and posterior tubercles and transverse foramina for the vertebral vessels.

Seventh cervical vertebra (C7)

Is called the vertebra prominens because it has a long spinous process that is nearly
horizontal, ends in a single tubercle (not bifid), and forms a visible protrusion.
Provides an attachment site for the ligamentum nuchae, supraspinous ligaments, and
numerous back muscles.

Dorsal vertebrae

Have costal facets; the superior costal facet on the body articulates with the head of the
corresponding rib, whereas the inferior facet articulates with the subjacent rib (just
below).
Have a transverse process that articulates with the tubercle of the corresponding rib.
Have the typical thoracic vertebrae , which are the second to the eighth thoracic
vertebrae.
Lumbar vertebrae

Are distinguished by their large bodies, sturdy laminae, and absence of costal facets. The
fifth lumbar vertebra has the largest body of the vertebrae.
Are characterized by a strong, massive transverse process and have mamillary and
accessory processes.

Sacrum

Is a large, triangular, wedge-shaped bone composed of five fused sacral vertebrae .
Has four pairs of foramina for the exit of the ventral and dorsal primary rami of the first
four sacral nerves.
Forms the posterior part of the pelvis and provides strength and stability to the pelvis .
Is characterised by the following structures:
Promontory: the prominent anterior edge of the first sacral vertebra (S1).
Ala: the superior and lateral part of the sacrum, which is formed by the fused transverse
processes and fused costal processes of the first sacral vertebra.
Median sacral crest: formed by the fused spinous processes.
Sacral hiatus: formed by the failure of the laminae of vertebra S5 to fuse. It is used for the
administration of caudal (extradural) anesthesia .
Sacral cornu or horn: formed by the pedicles of the fifth sacral vertebra. It is an important
landmark for locating the sacral hiatus.

Coccyx

Is a wedge-shaped bone formed by the union of the four coccygeal vertebrae.
Provides attachment for the coccygeus and levator ani muscles.