HWN Suggests

What is the Function of the Vertebrae?

Without vertebrae, we’d simply flop around like fish out of water. Think of your spine as your body’s ‘foundation’, without which the rest of you wouldn’t perform so well. The vertebral column is a key component of the human musculoskeletal structure. It is home to a total of 33 bones stacked one on top of the other to make up what is commonly known as the spine... Collectively, the functions of the vertebrae are to ensure that the spinal cord is protected and to support a range of muscles. Vertebrae are stacked one on top of the other with the vertebral arches (central gap where the spinal cord runs through) of each perfectly in line. Other than this purpose, each type of vertebra plays an important…

read full article

Articles of Interest

Anatomy Of The Thoracic Vertebrae And The Rib Cage

As viewed from the side, the thoracic spine’s vertebrae form a kyphotic curve that runs from T1 to T12, in which the spine curves outward towards the back of the body to allow more room for the internal organs such as the heart and lungs that reside inside the rib cage. Conversely, the cervical spine above and the lumbar spine below both have lordotic curves that go inward, toward the front of the body.

Cervical Vertebrae

It is made up of 7 vertebrae. The first 2, C1 and C2, are highly specialized and are given unique names: atlas and axis, respectively. C3-C7 are more classic vertebrae, having a body, pedicles, laminae, spinous processes, and facet joints.

How Many Vertebrae Make Up the Human Spine?

The human spine is made up of 33 individual bones upon birth. As we grow into adulthood, most individuals will have about 24 vertebrae as the vertebrae at the bottom end of the spine fuse together. In rare instances, a person may have an additional vertebrae. This is typically located in the L6 area of the lumbar.

Lumbar Vertebrae

The Lumbar Vertebrae are larger and heavier than vertebral bodies in other regions. The lumbar vertebral body is kidney-shaped when viewed superiorly, so it is wider from side to side than from front to back, and a little thicker in front than in back with a thin cortical shell which surrounds cancellous bone.

The Intricate Anatomy of Human Vertebrae

The human vertebrae are key parts of the spine. Each one has different parts that work together. The vertebral bodies are round bones that hold weight and allow movement. Facet joints, covered with cartilage, help the spine move and stay stable. Intervertebral foramen are spaces between the human vertebrae where nerves can go through. The spinous process is a bony part at the back of each vertebra. It helps muscles and ligaments attach and is important in medical procedures like lumbar punctures. The first cervical vertebra, called C1 or the atlas, connects to the skull and lets the head nod up and down. The second cervical vertebra, C2 or the axis, has a part called the odontoid process that the atlas turns around. Understanding these parts, including the atlas and axis, is important for treating spine problems and keeping the spine healthy.

The Vertebral Column

The vertebral column is a series of approximately 33 bones called vertebrae, which are separated by intervertebral discs. The column can be divided into five different regions, with each region characterised by a different vertebral structure.

Vertebra (Spine)

imagery...

Vertebral Body

There are 33 vertebrae which make up the spinal column: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral vertebrae, 3-4 fused coccygeal vertebrae.

What is the Sixth Lumbar Vertebra? A Rare Extra Bone

If you're like most spinal cord injury survivors, your injury has necessitated a crash course in spinal anatomy. Maybe you've even become something of an expert. If so, you know that there are five vertebrae in the lumbar region of the spinal cord, the portion of the spine that curves in your lower back. However, like many biological “facts,” there are exceptions to every rule. Having a sixth lumbar vertebrae in your spine is uncommon, but far from extraordinary. Roughly 10% of adults have a congenital abnormality in their lower back. The sixth lumbar vertebra is one of the most frequent abnormalities.

Resources

Radiopaedia

The vertebra (plural: vertebrae) is the fundamental segmental unit of the vertebral column (also known as the spine).

StatPearls

The vertebral column supports the body’s physical structure and nervous system, enabling movement and sensation. Pathology of the spine can lead to debilitating outcomes on quality of life. The vertebral column (spine) defines the animal subphylum Vertebra, or vertebrates, of the phylum Chordata. In humans, it is composed of 33 vertebrae that include 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal. Along with the skull, ribs, and sternum, these vertebrae make up the axial skeletal system.