Typical Vertebrae
Useful Facts
Landmarks
Curvatures
Joints of the Spine
100
This is the anterior portion of a vertebrae.
What is the body.
100
This section of the spine contains 7 vertebrae.
What is the Cervical Spine?
100
This vertebra is located at the same level as the jugular notch.
What is T2/T3?
100
These two curves are known as primary curves.
What are the thoracic and sacral(pelvic) curvatures?
100
This joint is located between adjacent vertebral bodies.
What is the intervertebral joint?
200
This extends posteriorly from the vertebral body in a ring like shape.
What is the Vertebral Arch?
200
This section of the spine is known to have the strongest and largest vertebrae.
What is the Lumbar Spine.
200
This vertebra is in line with the mastoid tip.
What is C1?
200
This curve develops when babies begin to raise their head and sit up.
What is the Cervical Curve?
200
This joint is formed by the inferior articular processes and the superior articular processes between two adjacent vertebrae.
What are the Zygapophyseal joints?
300
This extends posteriorly at the midline junction ?of the two laminae.
What is the Spinous Process?
300
This section of the spine is the most common site of injury and pathology.
What is the Lumbar Spine?
300
This anatomical landmark can be used to locate T10.
What is the Xiphoid Process (Tip of the Sternum)?
300
This curvature is anteriorly convex and is formed when a baby begins to walk.
What is the Lumbar Curvature?
300
This is an older term for zygapophyseal joint.
What is the Apophyseal joint?
400
This is formed by the body anteriorly and the vertebral arch posteriorly.
What is the Vertebral Foramen?
400
This is an older term used for the thoracic spine.
What is the Dorsal Spine?
400
This vertebra is level with the angle of the jaw (Gonion) when the head is in a neutral position.
What is C3?
400
This term describes an abnormal or exaggerated humpback curvature.
What is Kyphosis?
400
These allow for flexibility in the spine and also act as vertical shock absorbers.
What are intervertebral disks?
500
These extend posteriorly from either side of the vertebral body and form most of the sides of the vertebral arch.
What are Pedicles?
500
This is the average age range when the sacral segments fuse together.
What is between 25 and 30 years of age?
500
This vertebra is in line with the iliac crest.
What is L4/L5?
500
This term describes an exaggerated or abnormal lateral curvature of the spine.
What is Scoliosis?
500
Intervertebral disks are located between all vertebrae except these two.
What is C1 and C2?
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