Typical and Atypical Vertebrae

In the cervical spine what vertebrae are typical

3,4,5,6

In the thoracic spine what vertebrae are typical

2-8

6 typical features of cervical vertebrae

Small body, Larger triangular verterbal foramen, Bifid SP, transverse foramen, Ucinate process, horizontal articular facets.

Typical features of thoracic vertebrae

Heart-shaped body, long inferiorly angled SP, 6 costal facets, 4 demi facets, 2 transverse facets.

What way are the articular process on the T spine oreintated.

Sup. Is faced posterior and slightly lateral. Inf. Is faced anterior and slightly medial.

C1 features

No vertebral body, anterior arch and posterior arch, No IVD, No SP, Kidney shaped sup. articular facet.

C2 features

Odontoid process (Dens), 2 large sup. facets. Transverse ligament.

C7 features

Long prominent SP, not bifid, small/absent transverse foramen

T1 features

Long horizontal SP, 1 pair of complete Sup. costal facets.

T9 features

No inf. demifacet becuase T10 has a whole facet

T10 features

1 pair of whole facets on body and pedicle

T11 and T12 features

One pair of costal facets on pedicle, no costal facets on TP.

T12 features

Similar to lumbar feature and thoracic features, articular process alow for flexion and extension.

Typical Lumbar Vertebrae Features

Large and strong body with a kidney shaped curve, Triangular vertebral foramen larger than Tsp, but smaller than Csp, Long and slender TPs.

Articular Process of Lsp

Sup. facet face posteromdeially, Inf. Face anterolaterally. Mamillary process on post surface of each sup. articular process. Pars Interarticularis.

Atypical Lumbar Vertebra

L5. Sup. and Inf. articular process in line. Body is largest and deeper anterior. Smallest SP. Large TPs - oreintated post and sup.

Why does the lumbar vertebral body have well developed trabeculae.

For muscle and fascia attatment and also to diffuse forces.