2 Lumbar, Sacral, and Coccygeal Vertebrae
The lumbar spine is composed of five lumbar vertebrae. They
are comparatively large for bearing the weight of the trunk and COLOR the following features of image (part D) of the
also fairly mobile, but not nearly as mobile as the cervical spine. articulated lower spine (lumbar, sacrum, and coccygeal
The sacrum is composed of five fused vertebrae that form a vertebrae):
single wedge-shaped bone. The sacrum provides support for ■ 10. Anterior longitudinal ligament
the pelvis. The coccyx is a remnant of our embryonic tail and ■ 11. Intervertebral discs
usually consists of four vertebrae, with the last three being fused
into a single bone. The coccyx lacks vertebral arches and has no
■ 12. Spinal nerves (color yellow)
vertebral canal. The general features of all of these vertebrae are ■ 13. Interspinous ligament
summarized in the table below. ■ 14. Supraspinous ligament
THORACIC VERTEBRAE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE
Clinical Note:
Heart-shaped body, with facets Kidney-shaped body, massive for Stress- or age-related changes can lead to dehydration of the
for rib articulation support
intervertebral discs (IVD). In this process, the central nucleus pul-
Small circular vertebral foramen Midsized triangular vertebral foramen posus herniates through the anulus fibrosus, and if the herniation
Long transverse processes, which Facets face medial or lateral is posterolateral, which is most common, it can compress the
have facets for rib articulation in direction, which permits good spinal nerve or its root as it exits the intervertebral foramen.
T1-T10 flexion and extension
Long spinous processes, which Spinous process is short
slope posteriorly and overlap next COLOR
vertebra
L5 is largest vertebra
■ 15. The herniating nucleus pulposus as it compresses a
spinal nerve
SACRUM COCCYX
Large, wedge-shaped bone, which Co1 often not fused
transmits body weight to pelvis
Five fused vertebrae, with fusion Co2 to Co4 fused
complete by puberty
Four pairs of sacral foramina on No pedicles, laminae, spines
dorsal and ventral (pelvic) side
Sacral hiatus, the opening of Remnant of our embryonic tail
sacral vertebral foramen
COLOR the following features of the lumbar (part A), sacral
(parts B, C, and E ), and coccygeal (parts B, C, and E ) vertebrae,
using a different color for each feature:
■ 1. Intervertebral foramen: traversed by a spinal nerve
as it leaves the spinal cord and passes out to the
periphery
■ 2. Intervertebral disc
■ 3. Body
■ 4. Superior articular process
■ 5. Spinous process
■ 6. Lumbosacral articular surface: articulates with the
body of the L5 vertebra
■ 7. Anterior sacral foramina: for the passage of spinal
nerves
■ 8. Coccygeal vertebrae
■ 9. Median sacral crest: equivalent of vertebral spinous
processes elsewhere along the vertebral column
Plate 2-7 See Netter: Atlas of Human Anatomy, 6th Edition, Plates 155, 157, and 158. Skeletal System
