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What are the characteristics of vertebrae?
A typical vertebra consists of a body and a vertebral arch. The arch is formed by the paired pedicles and paired laminae. Arising from the vertebral arch are the transverse, spinous, superior articular, and inferior articular processes. The vertebral foramen provides for passage of the spinal cord.
What is the function of lumbar vertebrae?
Lumbar (low back) – the main function of the lumbar spine is to bear the weight of the body. The five lumbar vertebrae are numbered L1 to L5. These vertebrae are much larger in size to absorb the stress of lifting and carrying heavy objects.
What are typical processes of lumbar vertebrae?
The lumbar vertebrae consist of five individual cylindrical bones that form the spine in the lower back. These vertebrae carry all of the upper body’s weight while providing flexibility and movement to the trunk region. They also protect the delicate spinal cord and nerves within their vertebral canal.
What is the vertebrae function?
The vertebrae protect and support the spinal cord. They also bear the majority of the weight put upon your spine. The body of each vertebra is the large, round portion of bone. The body of each vertebra is attached to a bony ring.
What is the difference between spine and vertebrae?
Vertebrae: The spine has 33 stacked vertebrae (small bones) that form the spinal canal. The spinal canal is a tunnel that houses the spinal cord and nerves, protecting them from injury. Most vertebrae move to allow for a range of motion. The lowest vertebrae (sacrum and coccyx) are fused together and don’t move.
What is the meaning of lumbar vertebrae?
The part of the spine comprised of five vertebral bodies (L1-L5) that extend from the lower thoracic spine (chest) to the sacrum (bottom of the spine). The vertebral bodies are stacked on top of each other with a disc in between each one.
What is a lumbar vertebrae in anatomy?
The lumbar spine is the lower back that begins below the last thoracic vertebra (T12) and ends at the top of the sacral spine, or sacrum (S1). Most people have 5 lumbar levels (L1-L5), although it is not unusual to have 6. Each lumbar spinal level is numbered from top to bottom—L1 through L5, or L6.
What are the characteristics of the lumbar vertebrae?
General Characteristics. Distinguishing features of the lumbar vertebrae include a thick and stout vertebral body, a blunt, quadrilateral spinous process for the attachment of strong lumbar muscles, and articular processes that are oriented differently than those found on the other vertebrae.
What are the functions of the fifth lumbar vertebrae?
They act as sites of attachment for deep back muscles. The fifth lumbar vertebrae, L5, has some distinctive characteristics of its own. It has a notably large vertebral body and transverse processes as it carries the weight of the entire upper body. Fig 1.1 – Superior view of a lumbar vertebrae, showing its characteristic features.
Where is the spinal cord located in the lumbar vertebrae?
Body of the lumbar vertebra – Superior and lateral views. The vertebral or spinal foramen (Foramen vertebrale) is a large, triangular-shaped opening located posterior to the body. The spinal cord and several nerves pass through the foramen.
Where is the foramen of the lumbar vertebrae?
The arch surrounds the hollow vertebral foramen and connects the body to the bony processes on the posterior of the vertebra. The vertebral foramen is a large, triangular opening in the center of the vertebra that provides space for the spinal cord, cauda equina, and meninges as they pass through the lower back.