Radiographic Anatomy

of Vertebrae

Dr. Ahmed Al Far, M.D.

Professor of Radiation Oncology
Vertebral Column
 Vertebral Column
33 vertebrae:
7 cervical
12 thoracic
5 lumber
5 sacral (fused)
4 coccygeal (fused)

Curvature:
Primary: fetus , C-shaped
Secondary: lordosis , cervical and lumber
 Spinal Curvature terms
Term Description
Lordosis Normal compensatory concave curvature
of Cervical & Lumber spines, or
Abnormal exaggerated Lumber curvature
with increased concavity
Kyphosis Abnormal exaggerated Thoracic curvature
with increased concavity
Scoliosis Abnormal lateral curvature
Typical Vertebra
 Typical Vertebra
(1) Body:
(2) Arch: 2 pedicles (lat)+ 2 laminae (post)
Pedicle + Lamina Transverse process
Lamina + Lamina Spinous process
(3): Intervertebral Foramina:
Superior + Inferior vertebral notch
31 spinal nerves (8C+12T+5L+5S+1co)
(4) Intervertebral Joints:
(5) Intervertebral Disc:
Annulus fibrosus + Nucleus pulposus
Anterior Lateral Posterior

Cervical spines
The Cervical Vertebrae

(1): Transverse process:

Foramen
(2): Spinous processes:
Short and bifid
(C2-C6)
(3): Intervertebral canal:
Triangle
 The Atlas C1

Inferior view Superior view

No body
Large lateral mass
Articular facets
Anterior arch
 The Axis C2

Superior view Lateral view Inferior view

Vertebra Prominence C7

Spinous process:
1. Long
2. Easily felt
3. Nonbifid
Transverse process:
Foramen is small or
absent
Cervical

AP
Cervical

Lateral
Cervical

Oblique
Cervical, pen mouth
The Thoracic Vertebrae
 The Thoracic Vertebrae

Articular facet on the body (ribs)

T1: Complete facet superior
Demi-facet inferior
T2 - T10: Demi-facet on superior and inferior

T11 T12: Single complete facet at midlevel

Articular facet on transverse process
Sipnous process: long, downward
 Thoracic
AP Lat
Vertebrae
The Lumber Vertebrae
 The Lumber Vertebrae

The bigger body

Transverse processes:
Upper 4: increase in size from above downward
Fifth: shorter , stronger, pyramidal
Sipnous process:
square, horizontal
 Lumber
Vertebrae

AP Lat
 The Sacrum
5 fused vertebrae , Triangle in shape, Concave anteriorly
Central mass (fused body)
Sacral promontory (superior anterior border)
4 Sacral foramina
The ala (upper anterior surface)
Sacral crest: fused spinous processes (posterior)
Transverse process: rudimentary
Lateral articular surface: sacroiliac joint
3 vertebrae in male & 2 vertebrae in female
The Sacrum
 The Coccyx

4 (3-5) fused vertebrae, 1st often separate

Different shape and size
Articulate at acute angle with sacrum
 The Sacroiliac joint

Joint surface:
Flat,
Irregular
Oblique : backward, downward