Vertebra

vertebral foramen

the large central opening in an individual vertebra, bounded anteriorly by the vertebral body and posteriorly by the vertebral arch

vertebral body

the thick, rounded anterior (front) bone segment of a vertebra that acts as the primary weight-bearing structure of the spinal column

vertebral arch

the posterior, arch-shaped bony structure of a vertebra that encloses and protects the spinal cord

pedicle

a short, thick bridge of bone that connects the front part of a vertebra (the vertebral body) to the back part of the arch (the lamina)

lamina

intervertebral foramen

a small, lateral opening between two adjacent vertebrae in the spine that allows spinal nerves and blood vessels to pass from the spinal canal out to the rest of the body

inferior articular facet

a smooth, cartilage-covered bony surface located on the inferior (lower) articular process of a vertebra

spinous process

the bony projection extending backward and downward from the back (posterior) of each vertebra along the spine

transverse process

a small, wing-like bony projection that extends outward from the left and right sides of each vertebra in the spinal column

atlas/C1

first and topmost cervical vertebra of the spinal column

axis/C2

second cervical vertebra of the spine

dens

a peg-like bony projection extending upward from the second cervical vertebra (C2, or the axis) into the first cervical vertebra (C1, or the atlas)

costal facet

a smooth, cartilage-lined site on a thoracic vertebra where a rib connects to the spine

cervical vertebrae

7 first vertebrae

bifet

small vertebral body, a large triangular vertebral foramen, and holes in the transverse processes known as foramen transversarium

thoracic vertebrae

12 middle vertebrae

Heart-shaped vertebral bodies, coastal facet, circular and small vertebral foramen, long, downward-slanting spinous processes

lumbar vertebra

5 lowest vertebrae

Massive Body, Triangular Vertebral Foramen

T1

Small and rectangular vertebral body

Long and prominent spinous process that projects at a slightly more horizontal or less steep downward angle

T12

Shorter and more horizontal than the downward-sloping spinous processes

Small transverse processes