Cervical Spine
Normal Anatomy
- Normal sagittal lordosis
Cervical Vertebra Specifics
C1 (Atlas):
- No vertebral body
- No spinous process
C2 (Axis):
- Has an odontoid process (dens) and body
Thoracic Spine
Normal Anatomy
- Normal thoracic kyphosis
Thoracic Vertebra Features
- Costal facets for rib articulation
- Long spinous processes pointing inferiorly
- Smaller vertebral foramen compared to cervical vertebrae
Lumbar Spine
Normal Anatomy
- Normal lumbar lordosis
Lumbar Vertebra Features
- Large vertebral bodies
- Stout, broad spinous processes
- No costal facets
- No transverse foramina
Intervertebral Disc
Annulus Fibrosus
- Outer structure
- Composed of type I collagen (oriented obliquely), water, and proteoglycans
- High tensile strength prevents intervertebral distraction
- Flexible enough to allow for motion
Nucleus Pulposus
- Central portion of the intervertebral disc surrounded by the annulus fibrosus
- Composed of type II collagen, water, and proteoglycans