1
Bones of the Spine
MedicalRF.com/Getty Images
Back pain diagnosis often includes the name of the part of the spine from which your healthcare provider believes the pain arises. This article is a crash course on the basics of spinal bones.
The spinal column is made of 24 individual vertebrae that go from the skull to the sacrum.
From head to toe, the cervical spine connects the skull to the thoracic spine and consists of 7 bones called vertabrae, labeled C1-C7.
The thoracic spine has 12 vertebrae labeled T1-T12 and also connect to the ribcage.
The lumbar area contains 5 vertebrae labeled L1-L5 and connects to the pelvis.
2
Vertebra
The term ‘vertebra’ refers to one spinal bone. ‘Vertebrae’ is the plural form of the word.
A vertebra consists of a cylindrical body in front and a bony ring in the back.
The cylindrical body of the vertebra is a stacking agent; in other words, the spinal column is made up of the 24 vertebrae, which are stacked one on top of the other. This is what gives basic weight support to the spine.
The bony ring is attached to the back of the vertebral body and offer places for spinal muscles and ligaments to attach.
3
The Vertebral Bodies and Intervertebral Discs
The vertebral body is the largest and most supportive part of the vertebra.
As discussed above, the vertebral body is a large roundish structure that provides weight support through the column. The vertebrae stack on top of one another at the vertebral bodies.
Common disc problems include disc degeneration and herniated disc. An annular tear is another injury that may lead to aherniated disc, but not always. The intervertebral disc is often the first place in the spine where age-related degenerative changes (which pretty much everyone gets) take place.
The vertebral body defines part of the edge of the central area in the spinal column through which the spinal cord passes. It also contributes to thevertebral endplate, which can be another site of degenerative spinal changes.
4
The Facet Joint
The facet joint is located on the bony ring in the back of the spinal column.
The interconnected aspect of facet joint construction makes it a key player for keeping the entire spinal column stable during movement.
Facet joints are also called the zygapophyseal joints. That’s a difficult word to pronounce, so many people, including healthcare providers, prefer the term “facet joint.”
Problems with facet jointsare a very common cause of back pain and generally are associated with spinal arthritis and/or degenerative spinal changes.
Left unchecked, a pars defect can develop into spondylosis and finally spondylolisthesis, where one bone becomes destabilized to the point of slipping either forward or back of the bone next to it.
5Spinous and Transverse ProcessesMedicalRF.com/Getty ImagesSimilar to articular processes discussed above, spinous and transverse processes are projections of bone that emanate off the bony ring in the back of the vertebral body. Spinous and transverse processes look a little like fingers.On each vertebra, there are two transverse processes and one spinous process. The two transverse processes are located on either side of the ring, while the spinous process is located in the middle.These processes provide sites to which back muscles and ligaments attach.
5
Spinous and Transverse ProcessesMedicalRF.com/Getty ImagesSimilar to articular processes discussed above, spinous and transverse processes are projections of bone that emanate off the bony ring in the back of the vertebral body. Spinous and transverse processes look a little like fingers.On each vertebra, there are two transverse processes and one spinous process. The two transverse processes are located on either side of the ring, while the spinous process is located in the middle.These processes provide sites to which back muscles and ligaments attach.
Spinous and Transverse Processes
Similar to articular processes discussed above, spinous and transverse processes are projections of bone that emanate off the bony ring in the back of the vertebral body. Spinous and transverse processes look a little like fingers.
On each vertebra, there are two transverse processes and one spinous process. The two transverse processes are located on either side of the ring, while the spinous process is located in the middle.
These processes provide sites to which back muscles and ligaments attach.
6PedicleMedicalRF.com/Getty imagesThe pedicle is a short projection of bone that comes directly off the back of the vertebral body. The pedicle lies between the back of the vertebral body and the transverse process. There are two pedicles per vertebra, one on each side.
6
PedicleMedicalRF.com/Getty imagesThe pedicle is a short projection of bone that comes directly off the back of the vertebral body. The pedicle lies between the back of the vertebral body and the transverse process. There are two pedicles per vertebra, one on each side.
Pedicle
MedicalRF.com/Getty images
The pedicle is a short projection of bone that comes directly off the back of the vertebral body. The pedicle lies between the back of the vertebral body and the transverse process. There are two pedicles per vertebra, one on each side.
7
The Lamina
One commonly given surgery is called a laminectomy, but there are others, as well.
8
The Spinal Nerves and Column
Examples of common back problems involving the spinal nerve root include herniated disc and spinal stenosis.
Spinal nerves arise from the spinal cord at each level. The first branch into spinal nerve roots (already discussed) and then further subdivide into nerves that go to all parts of the body to pick up sensory information and relay that to the brain, as well as deliver movement instructions and impulses from the brain to the muscles.
Spinal nerve roots exit the spaces (called intervertebral foramina) created between two adjacent, stacked vertebrae.
The spinal cord ends after the first lumbar (low back area) vertebra. Beyond that, it is a bundle of nerves and roots that are more exposed than the nerves residing above. This bundle is called the cauda equina.
Frequently Asked QuestionsA spinous process is a small, wing-like projection of bone that points outward from each vertebra along the spine. It is where back muscles and ligaments attach to the spine. Each vertebra has one spinous process.A transverse process is a wing-like projection of bone that allows back muscles and ligaments to attach to the spine. There are two transverse processes on each vertebra, one on each side (left and right).There are 24 vertebrae in the human spinal column. Stacked on top of each other, the vertebrae reach from the skull to the sacrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
A spinous process is a small, wing-like projection of bone that points outward from each vertebra along the spine. It is where back muscles and ligaments attach to the spine. Each vertebra has one spinous process.
A transverse process is a wing-like projection of bone that allows back muscles and ligaments to attach to the spine. There are two transverse processes on each vertebra, one on each side (left and right).
There are 24 vertebrae in the human spinal column. Stacked on top of each other, the vertebrae reach from the skull to the sacrum.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Edison Spine Center.Tailbone (sacral spine).Cleveland Clinic.Overview of the spine.Cleveland Clinic.Foraminal Stenosis.Wu Q, Huang JH.Intervertebral disc aging, degeneration, and associated potential molecular mechanisms.J Head Neck Spine Surg. 2017;1(4):555569. doi:10.19080/JHNSS.2017.01.555569Kuisma M, Karppinen J, Haapea M, et al.Are the determinants of vertebral endplate changes and severe disc degeneration in the lumbar spine the same? A magnetic resonance imaging study in middle-aged male workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:51. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-51SUNY OER.The vertebral column.Washington University Physicians.Spondylolysis/Pars Defect.John Hopkins Medicine.Laminectomy.John Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Edison Spine Center.Tailbone (sacral spine).Cleveland Clinic.Overview of the spine.Cleveland Clinic.Foraminal Stenosis.Wu Q, Huang JH.Intervertebral disc aging, degeneration, and associated potential molecular mechanisms.J Head Neck Spine Surg. 2017;1(4):555569. doi:10.19080/JHNSS.2017.01.555569Kuisma M, Karppinen J, Haapea M, et al.Are the determinants of vertebral endplate changes and severe disc degeneration in the lumbar spine the same? A magnetic resonance imaging study in middle-aged male workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:51. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-51SUNY OER.The vertebral column.Washington University Physicians.Spondylolysis/Pars Defect.John Hopkins Medicine.Laminectomy.John Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Edison Spine Center.Tailbone (sacral spine).Cleveland Clinic.Overview of the spine.Cleveland Clinic.Foraminal Stenosis.Wu Q, Huang JH.Intervertebral disc aging, degeneration, and associated potential molecular mechanisms.J Head Neck Spine Surg. 2017;1(4):555569. doi:10.19080/JHNSS.2017.01.555569Kuisma M, Karppinen J, Haapea M, et al.Are the determinants of vertebral endplate changes and severe disc degeneration in the lumbar spine the same? A magnetic resonance imaging study in middle-aged male workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:51. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-51SUNY OER.The vertebral column.Washington University Physicians.Spondylolysis/Pars Defect.John Hopkins Medicine.Laminectomy.John Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.
Edison Spine Center.Tailbone (sacral spine).
Cleveland Clinic.Overview of the spine.
Cleveland Clinic.Foraminal Stenosis.
Wu Q, Huang JH.Intervertebral disc aging, degeneration, and associated potential molecular mechanisms.J Head Neck Spine Surg. 2017;1(4):555569. doi:10.19080/JHNSS.2017.01.555569
Kuisma M, Karppinen J, Haapea M, et al.Are the determinants of vertebral endplate changes and severe disc degeneration in the lumbar spine the same? A magnetic resonance imaging study in middle-aged male workers. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2008;9:51. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-9-51
SUNY OER.The vertebral column.
Washington University Physicians.Spondylolysis/Pars Defect.
John Hopkins Medicine.Laminectomy.
John Hopkins Medicine.Radiculopathy.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
