Inferior to the thoracic vertebrae and superior to the sacrum are the five lumbar vertebrae that increase in body size from L1-L5.
See the Digital Teaching Collection for more specimens of the vertebral column. See also Cervical Vertebrae and Thoracic Vertebrae.
Lumbar vertebrae are characterized by massive, medial-laterally elongate oval-shaped bodies and relatively narrow vertebral canals. The bodies lack costal facets or demifacets. No transverse foramina are present. The transverse processes are much more slender than those of thoracic vertebrae, and lack costal articulations. The spinous processes resemble medially-laterally compressed rectangles in lateral view. The spinous processes project more directly dorsally (as opposed to the obvious inferior-dorsal course of the thoracic spinous processes). The superior articular facets are concave and oriented dorsally and medially to receive the ventral and laterally oriented convex superior articular facets of the adjacent vertebra. This articular orientation reduces the mobility of the lumbar spine.
Lumbar vertebrae are characterized by massive, medial-laterally elongate oval-shaped bodies and relatively narrow vertebral canals. The bodies lack costal facets or demifacets. No transverse foramina are present. The transverse processes are much more slender than those of thoracic vertebrae, and lack costal articulations. The spinous processes resemble medially-laterally compressed rectangles in lateral view. The spinous processes project more directly dorsally (as opposed to the obvious inferior-dorsal course of the thoracic spinous processes). The superior articular facets are concave and oriented dorsally and medially to receive the ventral and laterally oriented convex superior articular facets of the adjacent vertebra. This articular orientation reduces the mobility of the lumbar spine.
Lumbar vertebrae are characterized by massive, medial-laterally elongate oval-shaped bodies and relatively narrow vertebral canals. The bodies lack costal facets or demifacets. No transverse foramina are present. The transverse processes are much more slender than those of thoracic vertebrae, and lack costal articulations. The spinous processes resemble medially-laterally compressed rectangles in lateral view. The spinous processes project more directly dorsally (as opposed to the obvious inferior-dorsal course of the thoracic spinous processes). The superior articular facets are concave and oriented dorsally and medially to receive the ventral and laterally oriented convex superior articular facets of the adjacent vertebra. This articular orientation reduces the mobility of the lumbar spine.
Lumbar vertebrae are characterized by massive, medial-laterally elongate oval-shaped bodies and relatively narrow vertebral canals. The bodies lack costal facets or demifacets. No transverse foramina are present. The transverse processes are much more slender than those of thoracic vertebrae, and lack costal articulations. The spinous processes resemble medially-laterally compressed rectangles in lateral view. The spinous processes project more directly dorsally (as opposed to the obvious inferior-dorsal course of the thoracic spinous processes). The superior articular facets are concave and oriented dorsally and medially to receive the ventral and laterally oriented convex superior articular facets of the adjacent vertebra. This articular orientation reduces the mobility of the lumbar spine.
Lumbar vertebrae are characterized by massive, medial-laterally elongate oval-shaped bodies and relatively narrow vertebral canals. The bodies lack costal facets or demifacets. No transverse foramina are present. The transverse processes are much more slender than those of thoracic vertebrae, and lack costal articulations. The spinous processes resemble medially-laterally compressed rectangles in lateral view. The spinous processes project more directly dorsally (as opposed to the obvious inferior-dorsal course of the thoracic spinous processes). The superior articular facets are concave and oriented dorsally and medially to receive the ventral and laterally oriented convex superior articular facets of the adjacent vertebra. This articular orientation reduces the mobility of the lumbar spine.
L5 is the largest of all vertebra and tends to be as long as it is wide. Notably, the L5 also tends to exhibit a lumbosacral angle, in that height of the body decreases ventral to dorsal.
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