Lumbar Vertebrae

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I hope you were not fooled. This is a cranial view of a lumbar vertebra. The articular surface is on the dorsomedial surface of the cranial articular process (F).

A. Vertebral canal;    B. Transverse process;

C. Dorsal spinous process;       D. Vertebral arch;   

E. Body;    F. Cranial articular process.

Do not let this one fool you either. The dorsal spinous process and transverse processes are directed cranially. This is a left lateral view. We cannot see the articular surface of the cranial articular processes (F), but as before, the articular surface of the caudal articular processes (G) are down and out. These just happen to be down and way out.

B. Transverse process;    C. Dorsal spinous process;

E. Body;    F. Cranial articular process;

G. Caudal articular process.

This, of course, is the caudal view of a lumbar vertebra.

A. Vertebral canal;    B. Transverse process;

C. Dorsal spinous process;       D. Vertebral arch;   

E. Body;    F. Cranial articular process;

G. Caudal articular process.