4. Cervical vertebra (inferior view
Cervical vertebra (superior view
1. Spinous process
1. Spinous process
2. Superior articular facets 2. Vertebral foramen
3. Vertebral foramen 3. Inferior articular facets
4. Transverse foramina 4. Transverse foramina
5. Transverse processes
5. Body
6. Body
5. Atlas C1 (inferior view)
1. Posterior arch
2. Transverse foramen
3. Transverse process
4. Inferior articular
facet
5. Anterior arch
Axis C2 (superior view)
1. Spinous process
2. Vertebral foramen
3. Transverse process
4. Superior articular surface
5. Odontoid process (dens
8. Thoracic vertebra (superior view
1. Spinous process
2. Transverse
processes
3. Vertebral foramen
4. Inferior demifacets
5. Body
1. Facet for tubercle of the rib
2. Superior articular process
3. Superior demifacet
4. Inferior demifacet
5. Inferior notch
6. Spinous process
Thoracic vertebra (right lateral view
10. Lumbar vertebra (superior view
1. Spinous process
2. Superior articular process
3. Transverse process
4. Vertebral foramen
5. Body
1. Superior articular process
2. Transverse process
3. Body
4. Inferior articular process
5. Spinous process
Lumbar vertebra (right lateral view
13. The sacrum (anterior view
1. Superior articular process
2. Sacral promontory
3. Sacral foramen
1. Superior articular process
2. Auricular surface
3. Median sacral crest
4. Sacral foramen
The sacrum (posterior view
14. 1. Manubrium
The sternum 2. Costal cartilage
3. Body
4. Xiphoid process
17. Ribs
In humans, a typical rib consists of a wedge-shaped head at the
posterior end that articulates with the vertebral body, a tubercle
that articulates with the same numbered thoracic vertebra, a
central shaft (body) and an anterior (sternal) end.
Located on the inferior portion of the inner surface of the body is
a costal groove that contains blood vessels and nerves.
Of the 12 pairs of ribs, all but the last two pairs are attached to the
sternum either directly or indirectly at their anterior ends by costal
cartilages.
For this reason, the last two pairs of ribs (which have their costal
cartilages embedded in the muscles of the body wall) are often
called the "floating ribs".
22. 1. Intervertebral foramen
2. Herniation
3. Spinal nerve
4. Intervertebral disc
the vertebrae are separated by discs of fibrous cartilage that cushion the bones
from shock.
Each disc is composed of an outer fibrocartilaginous ring called the annulus
fibrosus and a soft, inner, highly elastic structure called the nucleus pulposus.
Spinal nerves leave the spinal cord at regular intervals through the intervertebral
foramina formed by the union of two vertebrae. As shock absorbers, the
intervertebral discs are continually subjected to strong compressional forces.
Occasionally, the discs between the lower vertebrae may become injured or
weakened such that a portion of the nucleus pulposus protrudes into the
intervertebral foramen, pressing on one of the spinal nerves in the process. This
painful condition is called a herniated (slipped) disc.