CHARACTERISTICS OF TYPICAL VERTEBRAE
| | Typical Cervical (C3-6) | Typical Thoracic (T2-8) | Typical Lumbar (L1-4)
|
| Body | Small; transversely elongated; lipped | Medium-sized; heart-shaped; and faceted | Large; kidney-shaped
|
| Vertebral foramen | Largest; triangular | Smallest; circular | Intermediate;triangular
|
| Pedicles | Rounded | Flattened from side to side | Flattened from above downward
|
| Vertebral notches | Equal | Very unequal | Less unequal
|
| Laminae | Long, narrow, band-like | Short, broad, and imbricated | Short, thick and separated
|
| Transverse processes | Fenestrated; tuberculated | Facetted; knobbed | Spiked and spatula-shaped. Accessory and Mamillary Processes
|
| Spine | Short and bifid | Long, prismatic; sloping | Large, broad and hatchet-shaped
|
| Articular processes | Look chiefly (superior) up and (inferior) down | Look chiefly (superior) back and (inferior) forwards | Look chiefly (superior) in and (inferior) out
|
| Ribs | Costal bar | separate bone | Transverse process
|