C1 C2 C3 – C6 C7

Atlas Axis Typical Cervical Vertebra Vertebra Prominens

Body No body Vertical projection  ODONTOID Anterior part Wider than deep
PROCESS (DENS)  represents the More massive, roughly cylindrical
body of C1 fused with body of C2 Small and broad from side to side
Vertebral Has an anterior and posterior arch  PEDICLES: cylindrical; forms the sides of the
Arch ring-shaped bone arch

VERTEBRAL NOTCH
- Notch on the upper and lower border of
the pedicles
- Formed by the projection of the body
anteriorly and the articulating process
posteriorly

LAMINAE: flattened; completes the arch

posteriorly
Vertebral Large Large, triangular Walls: Vertebral Arch + Posterior Surface of Triangular
Foramen Vertebral Foramen

VERTEBRAL CANAL
- Formed by the succession of vertebral
foramina
- Contains the spinal cord, roots of the
spinal nerves, meninges, fat, and
associated vessels
Spinous No spinous process Largest of cervical region, bifid Small, bifid Longest; not bifid
Process
Transverse Short projection Form the ANTERIOR and FORAMEN TRANSVERSARIUM  Large
Process POSTERIOR TUBERCLES transmits vertebral artery (C1-C6) and
vertebral vein (C7: only small accessory Foramen Transversarium is small
vertebral veins)  transmits vertebral vein or small
accessory veins (could be empty)
ANTERIOR and POSTERIOR TUBERCLES

Bones of the Vertebral Column

By: FERNANDEZ MA
Articular Superior Articular Process: facets
Process concave, face generally superiorly
Inferior Articular Process: facets flat
to slightly concave, face generally
inferiorly
Superior Articular Process: facets flat to Superior Articular Process: facets face posteriorly and superiorly
slightly convex, face generally
superiorly Inferior Articular Process: facets face anteriorly and inferiorly (in C7: transitions to
typical thoracic vertebrae)
Inferior Articular Process: facets flat,
face anteriorly and inferiorly

Articulations Upper (Superior Part): ATLANTO- Upper (Superior Part):

OCCIPITAL JOINT  lateral mass ATLANTOAXIAL JOINT 
on each side for articulation with the articulation with C1/Atlas
occipital condyles

Lower (Inferior Part):

ATLANTOAXIAL JOINT 
articulation with C2/Axis
Other Atypical cervical vertebra Atypical cervical vertebra Atypical Cervical Vertebra
notable
characteristi Palpable at the back of the neck
cs (“prominens”)

Movements - Flexion: Longus cervicis, scalenus anterior, sternocleidomastoid

of the - Extension: Postovertebral muscles
Vertebral - Lateral Flexion: Scalenus anterior & medius, Trapezius, Sternocleidomastoid
Column - Rotation: Sternocleidomastoid, Splenius

Bones of the Vertebral Column

By: FERNANDEZ MA
 T1-T12 L1-L5 S1-S5
Coccyx
Typical Thoracic Vertebra Typical Lumbar Vertebra Sacrum
Body Medium-sized Massive  to support great amounts
of weight
Heart-shaped
Kidney-shaped (superior view)
COSTAL FACETS (1 or 2) 
articulation with the head of the rib
Vertebral PEDICLES: strong, directed backward
Arch
LAMINAE: short in a vertical direction
Vertebral Circular, smaller than those of Triangular Forms the SACRAL CANAL  contains the Vertebral Canal ends at the 1st
Foramen cervical and lumbar vertebrae anterior and posterior roots of the sacral and Coccyx
Larger than in thoracic vertebrae, coccygeal spinal nerves, filum terminale, and
smaller than in cervical vertebrae fibrofatty material; contains the lower part of
the subarachnoid space
Spinous Long, curves posteroinferiorly Short, flat, quadrangular (hatchet- Fused, rudimentary  MEDIAN SACRAL
Process shaped), projected posteriorly CREST (1)
Tips extend to the level of vertebral
body below
Transverse Long, strong  for muscle Long, slender Fused tips of transverse process 
Process attachment LATERAL SACRAL CRESTS (2)
Accessory process on posterior surface
T1 – T10  facets for articulation of base of each process
with the tubercle of the rib
Articular Superior Articular Process: facets Superior Articular Process: facets face Fused  INTERMEDIATE SACRAL Rudimentary (in Co1) 
Process face posteriorly and laterally medially CRESTS (2) COCCYGEAL CORNUA  articulate
with Sacral Cornua
Inferior Articular Process: facets face *Mamillary Process: on posterior Inferior articular process of S5 project
anteriorly and medially surface of each superior articular inferiorly on each side of the sacral hiatus 
*T12: faces laterally process SACRAL CORNUA

Inferior Articular Process: facets face

laterally
Articulations Through the: Superior border: BASE  articulates with L5
COSTAL FACETS
Found in the transverse process  Inferior border: APEX  articulates with
articulation with the tubercle of the rib coccyx

Bones of the Vertebral Column

By: FERNANDEZ MA
 Found in the vertebral body  Laterally: Sacroiliac Joints  2 iliac bones
articulation with the head of the rib
Other Largest: L5 (bears the weight of the Five rudimentary vertebrae fused together to Four vertebrae fused together to form
notable whole body form a wedge-shaped bone a single, small, triangular bone
characteristi
cs SURFACES Last 3 are completely fused together;
Four (4) Foramina on each sides  1st coccygeal bone is either fused or
passage of anterior and posterior rami of the incompletely fused with the 2nd bone
upper 4 sacral nerves
Exists until 8th week of fetal life;
Anterior/Pelvic Surface vestigial
- smooth and concave
- 4 transverse lines  fusion of sacral
vertebrae

Posterior/Dorsal Surface
- rough and convex
- 5 longitudinal ridges:
Median Sacral Crest (1)
Intermediate Sacral Crest (2)
Lateral Sacral Crest (2)
- SACRAL HIATUS: results from the
absence of the laminae and spinous
process of S5 (and S4)  does not meet
at the midline
- SACRAL CORNUA

Movements - Rotation: Unilateral contraction of - Flexion: Rectus abdominis, psoas

of the semispinalis & rotatores muscle, - Extension: Postvertebral muscles
Vertebral assisted by oblique muscles of - Lateral Flexion: Postvertebral
Column abdominal wall muscles, quadratus lumborum,
oblique muscles of anterolateral
No flexion & extension, no lateral abdominal wall, psoas
flexion - Rotation: Rotatores muscle,
oblique muscles of anterolateral
abdominal wall

Bones of the Vertebral Column

By: FERNANDEZ MA