PARTS OF VERTEBRAL COLUMN
Cervical vertebrae ( first 7 vertebrae which present on the the neck ) are also called cervical spine.
Thoracic vertebrae –12 vertebrae present in thoracic region called thoracic vertebrae or thoracic spine.
Lumber vertebrae –Five vertebrae present in lumber region called lumbar vertebrae or lumbar spine.
Sacrum– this is made from 5 fused vertebrae.
Coccyx– This is made from 3 to 5 fused vertebra.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A TYPICAL VERTEBRA
1- Body of vertebra
2-Vertebral ( neural) arch
BODY OF VERTEBRA
This is largest,broad and flat part of vertebra.
Vertebrae are stacked together with each other in Vertebral column.
Vertebra attach with the flat part of the body above it and below it .
Between the body of vertebra there is pad of fibrocartilage called intervartibal disc.
The body of the vertebrae lies infront of the vertebral column.
The lower spine of vertebrae support for much more weight than the upper spine.
VERTEBRAL ( NEURAL )ARCH
It is the back of the vertebral foramen ( this surround the vertebral foramen)
It lies backside of the body of vertebrae
And it is form lateral wall and posterior wall of Vertebral foramen
Pedicle -2
Lamina-2
Transeverse process-2
Spinous process-1
Superior articular process -2
Inferior articular process -2
All these structures are come under Vertebral Arch.
PEDICLES- Pedicle starts from the vertebral body and connects to the lamina.
It is form side wall of the vertebral foramen.
.Every vertebra has 2 Pedicles, one on the Right side of the vertebra. and one on thel eft side of vertebra..
LAMINAE- Two Laminae meet at the back is a process called Spinous process.
On each side of the vertebrae there is bony projection form by junction of Pedicle and Lamina. that is called Transeverse process.
SUPERIOR ARTICULAR PROCESS –
These are present on the upper part of the vertebra and help one vertebra connect with the other vertebra above it .
Two superior articular process present on each vertebra, one on Right side and anather one on left side
REGION -SPECIFIC VERTEBRAL CHARACTERISTICS
1- Cervical vertebrae
Cervical vertebrae are smallest vertebrae than other vertebrae
Most important features of cervical vertebrae is there have foramen in the transeverse processes of cervical vertebrae
Through this foramen Vertebral artery passes upwards to the brain .
The first two cervical vertebrae are Atlas and axis
Name of the first cervical vertebrae is Atlas
Name of the 2nd cervical vertebrae is Axis
Skull Rest on the Atlas ( First cervical vertebra)
Axis present below the axis.
2- Thoracic vertebrae
3- Lumbar vertebrae
4- Sacrum
5-Coccyx