Human Skeleton - spine (vertebrae)

Typical vertebral structures:


1. body:

2. transverse process (3 examples):

3. spinous process:
4. laminae: 

5. vertebral foramen:

superior articular process:

inferior articular process:

Cervical (C1 - C7):

1. "atlas"  (C1)


2. "axis" (C2):

"dens" is the nub sticking out at the top (axis, superior view).

cervical vertebrae are the ONLY vertebrae that have transverse foramina  (axis, inferior view)

3. "vertebra prominens" (C7)



Thoracic (T1 - T12) - typical vertebrae: 

(thoracic vertebrae, inferior view)

             thoracic vertebrae have exceptionally long/prominent spinous processes and NO transverse foramina.

Lumbar (L1 - L5):

lumbar vertebrae have very LARGE "bodies", NO transverse foramina, and relatively short spinous processes.

Sacral (S1 - S5) - 5 fused bones:

Coccyx (Co1 - Co4) - 4 little bones on average: