Bhawna Thakur and R. S. Chauhan
Department of Anatomy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College & Hospital,Kumarhatti, Solan, India
*Correspondence to: Dr. Bhawna Thakur, Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Maharishi Markandeshwar Medical College & Hospital, Solan, India
Received: Jul 24, 2025; Accepted: July 06, 2026; Published: Jul 15, 2026
Citation: Thakur B, Chauhan RS (2026) Anatomy of Vertebral Column. J Anatomical Variation and Clinical Case Report 4:125.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61309/javccr.1000125
Copyright: ©2026 Thakur B. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
ABSTRACT
The vertebral column comprises serially articulated vertebrae separated by fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs, forming the vertebral canal that encloses and protects the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots. Cervical vertebrae feature transverse foramina and bifid spinous processes; thoracic vertebrae bear costal demi-facets and coronally oriented articular facets; lumbar vertebrae possess robust vertebral bodies, mammillary processes, and sagittally oriented zygapophyses; the sacrum and coccyx undergo segmental fusion to form the pelvic keystone. Intervertebral discs consist of a central gelatinous nucleus pulposus and concentric annulus fibrosus that cushion axial loads but are susceptible to annular fissure and herniation. Segmental arterial supply arises from vertebral, posterior intercostal, lumbar, and lateral sacral branches, while valveless internal and external venous plexuses facilitate venous drainage and potential metastatic spread. Innervation by recurrent meningeal nerves and dorsal rami mediates nociception from discs, ligaments, and facet joints. Intrinsic musculature-including erector spinae, multifidus, and intertransversarii-and ligamentous structures-anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, ligamenta flava, interspinous and supraspinous ligaments-maintain spinal stability and restrict excessive motion.
Age-related osteopenia, disc desiccation, and facet arthrosis lead to decreased segmental flexibility, predisposing to compression fractures, spondylotic pain, and deformities. Clinical entities range from sagittal and coronal deformities (kyphosis, lordosis, scoliosis) to degenerative spondylosis, disc herniation, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, and congenital anomalies such as spina bifida.
Keywords: Sagittal curvatures; Intervertebral disc; Vertebral column; Lumbar lordosis
