
Two pedicles extend from the sides of the vertebral body to join the body to the arch. The vertebral arch is formed by pedicles and laminae. They also act as a semi-permeable interface for the exchange of water and solutes.

The endplates function to contain the adjacent discs, to evenly spread the applied loads, and to provide anchorage for the collagen fibers of the disc. The endplates are formed from a thickened layer of the cancellous bone of the vertebral body, the top layer being more dense. These surfaces are the vertebral endplates which are in direct contact with the intervertebral discs and form the joint. The upper and lower surfaces of the body of the vertebra are flattened and rough in order to give attachment to the intervertebral discs. The vertebral arch and processes have thicker coverings of cortical bone.

This cancellous bone is in turn, covered by a thin coating of cortical bone (or compact bone), the hard and dense type of osseous tissue. The body is composed of cancellous bone, which is the spongy type of osseous tissue, whose microanatomy has been specifically studied within the pedicle bones. As such, vertebrates take their name from the vertebrae that compose the vertebral column.Įvery vertebra has a body ( vertebral body), which consists of a large anterior middle portion called the centrum ( vertebral centrum, plural centra) and a posterior vertebral arch, also called a neural arch.

Structurally, vertebrae are essentially alike across the vertebrate species, with the greatest difference seen between an aquatic animal and other vertebrate animals. Vertebrae articulate with each other to give strength and flexibility to the spinal column, and the shape at their back and front aspects determines the range of movement. The body of the vertebra, and it's vertebral arch, form the vertebral foramen, which is the larger, stable and central opening: this accommodates the spinal canal, and encloses and protects the spinal cord. These foramina are the entry and exit conduits accommodating the spinal nerves. There are vertebral notches, each constituted by the shape of the pedicles, which form the intervertebral foramina when vertebrae articulate. The laminae give attachment to the ligamenta flava, which are ligaments of the spine.
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Is a moderately flexible series of vertebrae (singular vertebra), each constituting a characteristic irregular bone whose complex structure is composed primarily of bone, and secondarily of hyaline cartilage. The spinal column, characteristic of each vertebrate species,
