BCIT MRAD 2235 - Typical and Atypical Vertebrae

Typical Cervical Vertebrae

C3-C6

Typical Thoracic Vertebrae

T2-T8

Typical Lumbar Vertebrae

L1-L4

Atypical Cervical Vertebrae

C1, C2, C7

Atypical Thoracic Vertebrae

T1, T9, T10, T11, T12

Atypical Lumbar Vertebrae

L5

Typical Cervical Body

small, oval, uncinate process

Typical Thoracic Body

larger than cervical, heart-shaped, posterior margin deeper

Typical Lumbar Body

large, kidney-shaped, anterior margin deeper

C1 atypical features

No body. lateral masses, anterior and posterior arches, anterior and posterior tubercles, transverse ligament, 5 facets

C2 atypical features

irregular body, contains odontoid process, 5 facets

Typical Cervical Transverse Process

small, extend laterally, contain foramen transversarium for vertebral artery

Typical Thoracic Transverse Process

longer, extend laterally, accommodate ribs

Typical Lumbar Transverse Process

thick, long, project laterally, serve as muscle attachment sites

Typical Cervical Spinous Process

short, bifid, project posteriorly, serve for muscle attachments

Typical Thoracic Spinous Process

long, slender, project inferiorly, help stabilize spine

Typical Lumbar Spinous Process

short, thick, project posteriorly, provide muscle attachment points

Typical Cervical Vertebral Foramen

large, triangular, allow passage of spinal cord and nerves

Typical Thoracic Vertebral Foramen

smaller than lumbar, circular, allow passage of spinal cord

Typical Lumbar Vertebral Foramen

Triangular, smaller than cervical, larger than thoracic

Typical Cervical intervertebral Foramen

45 degrees anterior to coronal plane and 15 degrees inferior to transverse plane

Typical Thoracic Intervertebral Foramen

90 degrees to median plane

Typical Lumbar Intervertebral foramen

90 degrees to median plane and allows passage of spinal nerves.

typical cervical zygapophyseal joints

90 degrees from median plane and directed inferiorly from anterior to posterior.

typical thoracic zygapophyseal joints

forward 20 degrees from coronal plane

typical lumbar zygapophyseal joints

45 degrees posterior from coronal plane

T1 atypical features

Full superior costal facet, spinous process thick, long, horizontal

T9 atypical features

Inferior costal facet may be absent

T10 atypical features

No inferior costal facet, superior costal facet may be full, costotransverse facet may be absent

T11, T12 atypical features

Full superior costal facet, no inferior costal facet, small transverse process, no costotransverse facets

L5 atypical features

large body, deeper anteriorly, large transverse processes, connected to whole pedicle and part of body

Pars Interarticularis

Area between superior and inferior articulating facets on lumbar vertebrae