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The Vertebra Forms the Building Blocks of the Spine...and therefore is quite important! In different areas of the spine the vertebrae vary in size and shape according to the function required of them. The lumbar spine (lower back) is made up of the 5 lowest ones. Here they are the largest of the whole spine as they have to bear the whole weight of the spine above. When viewed from above there is a large hole for the passage of the spinal cord.
When they are linked together, the holes form a tunnel called the spinal canal.
At the corners of each body are bony processes. When the 2 bony processes of adjacent bodies meet, they form a joint called a facet joint. The role of the facet joint is to allow movement. These joints glide over each other when the spine moves. They can also be a source of pain such as in spondylosis. The intervertebral discs help to space the bones and therefore the facet joints, so not too much pressure is placed upon them. |
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