In this PDF note we are going to talk about the anatomy of the 5 lumbar vertebrae (vertebrae lumbales). By and large, they have a typical structure, with the exception of some characteristic features.
Since the lumbar vertebrae carry a heavy load (that is, they carry the entire upper half of the body), their vertebral body (corpus vertebrae) is rather large.
The vertebral foramen (foramen vertebrale) is also large.
The articular processes are located virtually in the sagittal plane. The superior articular surfaces (facies articularis superior) of the superior articular processes (processus articularis superior) face inward, and the inferior articular surfaces (facies articularis inferior) of the inferior articular processes (processus articularis inferior) face outward.
In addition, there is a small rudimentary mammilary process (processus mamillaris) on the superior articular process.
The transverse process (processus transversus) of the lumbar vertebra splits into two processes — the costal process (processus costalis) and the accessory process (processus accessorius).
Lumbar vertebrae
- vertebrae lumbales
- lumbal vertebrae
- corpus vertebrae
- vertebral body
- foramen vertebrale
- vertebral foramen
- processus articularis superior
- superior articular process
- processus articularis inferior
- inferior articular process
- facies articularis superior
- superior articular facet
- facies articularis inferior
- inferior articular facet
- processus mamillaris
- mammilary process
- processus transversus
- transverse process
- processus costalis
- costal process
- processus accessorius
- accessory process
