Lumbar Vertebra
Vertebrae lumbales is the Latin pronunciation for Lumbar Vertebrae. These are the five vertebrae in between ribcage and pelvis of human beings. Being the largest segments of Vertebral Column, they are characterized by absence of Foramen Transversarium within Transverse process. Facets are also absent on sides of body. Starting from top to bottom, they are numbered as L1 to L5. The main function of Lumbar Vertebrae is to support weight of body and allow movement.
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Lumbar Vertebra
General characteristics of First to Fourth vertebrae are same. Whereas Fifth vertebra has peculiar characteristics listed afterwards. Each Lumbar Vertebra is comprised of Vertebral body Vertebral Arch Vertebral Arch further consists of Pedicles, pair of Laminae, encloses Vertebral Foramen and supports Seven Processes. Vertebral Body: Vertebral body of each Lumbar Vertebra is large, wide form sides and a little thick in front than back. They are flat from below and above, concave from behind and have constrictions in front and sides. Vertebral Arch: Pedicles are strong and are directed upward from upper part of vertebral body. Inferior vertebral notches have considerable depths. Morphology of pedicles changes from upper to lower lumbar vertebrae. Pedicles are used for a passage to enter in vertebral body for fixation with pedicle screws. Pedicles are also used for placement of bone cement in procedures of Vertebroplasty or also called Kyphoplasty. Laminae are wide, short and strong forming back portion of Vertebral Arch. Laminae in upper Lumbar region are taller than wider whereas in lower region they are wider than taller. Spinous process is connected to pedicles through Laminae. Vertebral Foramen inside arch is triangular in shape. It is larger than in Thoracic region but smaller than in Cervical Vertebrae. Processes: Processes within Lumbar vertebrae are as follows. Spinous Process: It is thick, wide and a little quadrilateral in shape. It projects backward while ending in rough border. Superior and Inferior Articular processes: They are well defined while projecting upward and backward respectively from junctions of Pedicles and Laminae. Facets of Superior processes are concave while that of Inferior processes are convex. Transverse processes: They are long and slender. They are horizontal in upper three vertebrae and inclined a little upward in lower two. Tubercles are the three portions which are present in transverse process of lower lumbar vertebrae. These three portions are as follows. Costiform process Mammillary process Accessory process Fifth Lumbar Vertebrae: Body of Fifth Lumbar Vertebra is much deeper in front than behind. It associates with prominence of Sacrovertebral Articulation. Fifth vertebra is the most common site for Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis.
Muscles attached to Lumbar vertebrae are as follows. Multifidus Longissimus Spinalis
The main role of lumbar vertebrae is to bear weight of body. Lumbar vertebrae are also important for supporting upper body in an upright position because of their increased size. They also have small part of Spinal cord and nervous tissues and also provide protection to them. Lower back pain is a common disease for Lumbar Vertebrae. It can be due to improper posture or fracture. Lower back problems put pressure on Lumbar vertebrae nerves. This creates strong pain due to nerves being pinched from friction. Common causes for lower back pain are as follows. Muscle injury Fractured vertebrae Herniated disc Infection of spinal cord Spinal Stenosis Osteoarthritis
ANATOMY
MUSCLE ATTACHMENTS
FUNCTION
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
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