Vertebral Column: Characteristics, Structure And Structures

Vertebral Column:

It extends down from the base of the skull to the pelvis, providing support to the thorax and peritoneum/lower back region. it has vital important in our body by
Supporting the upper limb body weight; allow us to maintain a correct anatomical posture. There are all together total 33 vertebrae
1. Superiorly: There are all together 24 individual vertebrae, which are separated by intervertebral discs.
2. Inferiorly: There are nine fuse to form two composite bones five Sacrum’s and four Coccyx’s.

In short structure of vertebral column:

1.Cervical Spine:
- Lordotic curvature
- Greatest ROM
- Most vulnerable to injury

2. Thoracic Spine:
- Greatest protection
- Least ROM

3. Lumbar Spine:
- Balance between protection/ROM

• The first, second, and seventh present exceptional features
• NB: false vertebrae-the fused vertebral segments of the sacrum and coccyx

Typical cervical vertebra

• characteristics are common to the remaining typical four.
• The body is small, and broader from side to side than from before backward.
• The anterior and posterior surfaces
• and its inferior border is prolonged downward, so as to overlap the upper and forepart of the vertebra below.
• The upper surface is concave transversely,
• the lower surface is concave from before backward, convex from side to