Healthy FAQ

What Differentiates the Cervical, Thoracic, and Lumbar Vertebrae in the Spinal Column?

The vertebral column, also known as the spinal column or backbone, is an intricate structure made up of 33 vertebrae separated by spongy disks. These vertebrae are classified into four distinct areas: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions. The cervical region comprises seven vertebrae, numbered C1-C7, starting with the most cephalic cervical vertebra. The unique feature of all cervical vertebrae is the presence of a foramen transversarium in each transverse process. Furthermore, cervical vertebrae are generally smaller in size as they don’t bear much weight. The cervical spine has an intricate range of motion, which can be subdivided into an upper complex (C0, C1, and C2) and a lower complex (C3-C7).

In the thoracic region, we have the T1–T12 vertebrae, and the lumbar region consists of L1–L5 vertebrae. The sacrum arises from the fusion of five sacral vertebrae, while the coccyx forms from the fusion of four small coccygeal vertebrae. When examining a vertebra, one can observe typical features such as the vertebral body, vertebral foramen, vertebral arch, pedicle, lamina, spinous process, transverse process, and superior articular process and facet.

It’s essential to differentiate between the three types of vertebrae and understand the superior and inferior surfaces. The first two cervical vertebrae, the atlas and axis, have distinct features that set them apart. By using a vertebral column model connected by a string, one can start at the cervical region and count the vertebrae in each section.

For further in-depth understanding and labeling exercises related to the spine, one can refer to various resources. Some of these resources include:
The Vertebral Column,
URMC Encyclopedia,
Large Animal Anatomy,
Human Anatomy,
Bone Master List,
Cervical Anatomy,
Cervical Biomechanics,
Vertebral Osteology Radiology, and
Spine Labeling.