Vertebra

Number Body features

of
vertebra

Spinous
process

Transverse
Process

C1 - Atlas

No spinous
process

Transverse
foramen
present

No body

Orientation of
Facets on
Articular
Processes
forming
Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joints (IVZJ)
Superiorinferior facets

Joints

Movements

- Atlantooccipital joint

- Flexion
- Extension

- Atlanto-axial
joint
C2 - Axis

Axis have Dens

Bifid spinous
process

Transverse
foramen
present

Superiorinferior facets

- Atlanto-axial
joint

- Rotation
- Rotation

- Intervertebral
Disc joint
- Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joints
Cervical

Cervical
vertebrae have
Small body

Bifid spinous
process
EXCEPT C7

Transverse
foramen
present

Superiorinferior facing
facets

- Intervertebral
Disc joint

- Flexion
- Extension

- Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joints

- Rotation

Muscles
producing
movements

Thoracic

Lumbar

12

Thoracic
vertebrae have
Narrow, long,
downward
facing body

Narrow, long,
downward
facing body

Lumbar
vertebrae have
Large body

Square,
horizontal

Costal facets

Posterioranterior facing
facets

- Intervertebral
Disc joint
- Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joints

Medial-lateral
facing facets

- Intervertebral
Disc joint

Coccygeal 3-5

Sacral
vertebrae have
Fused body

Coccygeal have
Fused body

- Flexion
- Extension

- Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joints
Sacral

- Lateral
Flexion
- Rotation

Sacral have
fused spinous
process
form median
sacral crest

Coccygeal
have Fused
spinous
process

Sacral crest
have fused
transverse
processes
form lateral
sacral crest

- lumbosacral
joint

Coccygeal
have Fused
Transverse
process

- sacrococcygeal
joint

- sacroiliac joint
- sacrococcygeal
joint

Function

- Body is for
Force transfer
- Body is for
attachments
- Body form
joints
- Body protects
spinal chord

- Spinous
process is for
attachments of
ligaments and
muscles

- Transverse
process is for
attachments
of ligaments
and muscles

Orientation of
face allow
movements at
Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal
joint.

Joints allow
movements

Joints of Vertebral column

Joint

Bones involved

Histological
classification
- Synovial

Mechanical
classification
- Hinge

Movements

Muscles involved

Atlanto-occipital
joint (AOJ)

- Skull (occipital condyle)

- Atlas

- flexion
- extension

- Posterior Neck
Muscles

Atlanto-axial joint
(AAJ)

- Atlas
- Axis

- Synovial

- Pivot

- rotation

- Posterior Neck
Muscles

Intervertebral disc
joint (IVDJ)

- vertebral body

- Symphysis
(Solid joint,
Fibrocartilaginous
joint)

- Adjustment

- Intrinsic Back
Muscle
- Anterolateral
Abdominal Wall
Muscles

Intervertebral
Zygopophyseal joint
(IVZJ)

- Superior/inferior
articular processes of
adjacent vertebrae

- Synovial

- Sliding

Lumbosacral joint

- Lumbar vertebrae (L5)

- Sacral vertebrae (S1)

- Symphysis

Sacroiliac joint

- Sacrum
- Ilium of pelvis

- Synovial
- fibrous

- Intrinsic Back
Muscle
- Anterolateral
Abdominal Wall
Muscles
- small movement in
all direction

- Adjustment

Sacrococcygeal joint

- Sacrum
- coccyx

- Cartilage

- Hinge

Muscles moving the vertebral column

Muscle group
Intrinsic Back Muscle

Attachments
- Posterior vertebral column

Actions on Vertebral column

- extension
- rotation
- maintain posture

Posterior Neck Muscle

- Nuchal region
- Cervical vertebrae

- AOJ action Extension, Posture

- AAJ action Rotation

Anterolateral Abdominal Wall Muscles

- Thorax
- Vertebrae
- Hip

- Lumbar region action Flexion

Comparison of vertebral column in Hominoid species

Feature

Ape/Pongids

Australopithecus

Humans (MHS)

Atlanto-occipital joint

- Posteriorly placed

- Anteriorly placed

- Anteriorly placed

Secondary curves

- Slight cervical
- ONE secondary curve

- Lumbar curvature

- Prominent
- TWO secondary curves (Lumbar,
cervical lordosis)

Vertebral body size

- smaller increase in size down

the column

- increase in size

- marked increase in size down

the column

Axis of Centre of Gravity

- angled
- away from vertebral column

- parallel
- close to vertebral column

Thoracic/Lumbar ratio

13:3-4 (extra thoracic allow more

rotation)

12:5 (extra lumbar for

flexion/extension)

Vertebral Joints (Lumbosacral

joint, Sacroiliac joint)
Sacrum

- Small

- Small

- Large

- Long
- narrow
- flat

- Short
- Wide
- Flat

- Short
- Wide
- Curved

Lumbosacral angle

- 30

- 45

- 60