What is the function of lumbar vertebrae?

What is the function of lumbar vertebrae?

Lumbar (lower back): Five vertebrae (L1 to L5) make up the lower part of the spine. Your lumbar spine supports the upper parts of the spine. It connects to the pelvis and bears most of your body’s weight, as well as the stress of lifting and carrying items. Many back problems occur in the lumbar spine.

What is the meaning of lumbar vertebra?

Medical Definition of lumbar vertebra : any of the vertebrae situated between the thoracic vertebrae above and the sacrum below that in humans are five in number.

What are the parts of the lumbar vertebra?

To summarize, the main anatomical components of a lumbar vertebra are:

• Vertebral body.
• Vertebral arch.
• Spinous process.
• Pedicles and laminae.
• Vertebral foramen.
• Superior and inferior articular processes/facets.
• Transverse processes.

Where is the lumbar bone located?

The lumbar region of the spine, more commonly known as the lower back, consists of five vertebrae labeled L1 through L5. The lumbar region is situated between the thoracic, or chest, region of the spine, and the sacrum.

What is unique about the lumbar vertebrae?

Typical lumbar vertebrae have several features distinct from those typical of cervical or thoracic vertebrae. The most notable distinction is the presence of a large vertebral body. The spinous process is short and thick, relative to the size of the vertebra, and projects perpendicularly from the body.

How do you differentiate a lumbar vertebrae?

The main distinguishing feature of the lumbar vertebrae is the orientation of the facets on the superior and inferior articular processes. The facets on the superior articular processes face medially and posteriorly, and the facets on the inferior articular processes face laterally and anteriorly.

Whats is lumbar?

The lumbar spine (lower back) consists of five vertebrae in the lower part of the spine, between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs.

What can a MRI of the lumbar spine show?

What can lumbar MRIs diagnose?

• check spinal alignments.
• detect abnormalities of vertebrae or the spinal cord.
• evaluate any inflammation of the spinal cord or nerves.
• check for tumors on or around the spinal cord.
• monitor damage to the spine after an injury.
• monitor the spine after an operation.

What part of the body does the lumbar spine control?

The nerves of the lumbar spine then reach to your legs, bowel, and bladder. These nerves coordinate and control all the body’s organs and parts, and let you control your muscles.

Why are lumbar vertebrae so thick?

The bodies of the lumbar vertebrae are massive, sturdy, and designed to withstand vertical compression. The spinous processes are broad and thick so stabilizing muscles can attach. The superior articular facets face inward (medially) and the inferior articular facets face outward (laterally).

How many lumber vertebrae are in the human body?

The lumbar vertebrae are, in human anatomy, the five vertebrae between the rib cage and the pelvis.

What vertebrae are the largest and strongest?

The lumbar vertebrae are the largest and strongest in the spinal column. L4 and L5 verterbrae in addition to there discs account for 50% of lumbar lordosis.

What bone is connected to the lumbar vertebrae?

The triangular sacrum forms joints between the lumbar vertebrae and the hip bones. It also contains many passages for the spinal nerves that exit the spinal cord and spread through the pelvis and legs. The coccyx, or tailbone, is inferior to the sacrum and made of several tiny, fused vertebrae.

What size is the lumbar vertebrae?

The average circumference of the lower endplate of the fourth lumbar vertebra was 141 mm and the average surface area was 1,492 mm2. An increasing pedicle width from a mean of 9.6 +/- 2.2 mm at L3 through to 16.2 +/- 2.8 mm at L5 was noted.