vertebrae (anatomy)
Last reviewed 01/2018
The vertebrae can be divided into regional groups, from superior to inferior:
- 7 cervical vertebrae, including:
- C1 - atlas
- C2 - axis
- C7 - vertebra prominens
- 12 thoracic vertebra
- 5 lumbar vertebra
- sacrum - fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae
- coccyx - fusion of 4 coccygeal vertebrae
There is a common structure to the upper, presacral vertebrae with slight regional variation. They are divided up by intervertebral joints containing the intervertebral discs and posterior zygapophysial joints.