THE VERTEBRAL COLUMN:

 Axial skeleton:
o Vertebral column
o Rib cage
o Skull

 Vertebral column:
o Supports skull above
o Provides anchorage for the ribs
o Protects the spinal cord.

 Each bone in vertebral column = vertebra

o 7 cervical vertebra
o 12 thoracic vertebra
o 5 lumbar vertebra
o 5 fused sacral segments (wedged between the 2 sides of the pelvis).
o Coccyx (4 fused bones)
 12 thoracic vertebra sit one on top of the other  the vertebral fomanina from a continuous tube – vertebral canal
 The vertebral canal contains the spinal cord
 Between each vertebra, there is an exit on the right and left sides from the vertebral canal.
 These are called intervertebral foramina
 Intertransverse ligaments bind the transverse processes together
 Anterior tubercle
(costal element)
Posterior tubercle

 The laminae are united by ligamenta flava

 A pars which is radiolucent (transparent) is either fractured or cartilaginous
Median sacral crest
3. Spinal cord

Venous drainage of spinal column

L4

L5
v

Sacrospinalis

Transverse spinalis Rotatores