Lumbar spine
Learning objectives
After completing this study unit you will be able to:
- Describe the structure and function of the lumbar spine.
- Identify the features of a typical lumbar vertebra.
- Name the articulations of the lumbar vertebrae and their associated ligaments.
Watch video
The lumbar spine consists of five lumbar vertebrae, designated L1-L5. They are the largest and sturdiest examples of all vertebrae due to their role in supporting the weight of the upper body. Like their cervical and thoracic counterparts, the lumbar vertebrae articulate with each other via the intervertebral symphyses and zygapophyseal joints. The inferiormost lumbar vertebra, L5, articulates with the sacrum via the lumbosacral joint, which is morphologically similar to the more superior intervertebral joints.
Watch the following video to take a closer look at the lumbar spine and compare its anatomical features with those of the thoracic spine.
Take a quiz
Make all that new knowledge stick with the quiz below!
Have you mastered the lumbar spine and are now looking for an extra challenge? Try out the quiz below and test yourself on the structures of the vertebral column.
Browse atlas
:watermark(/images/watermark_5000_10percent.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/overview_image/3570/BqBd93Vu0cVYvgaeoOnl3w_typical-lumbar-vertebra_english.jpg){kind=logo}
Take a closer look at all the distinguishing features of the lumbar vertebrae in the gallery below.
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lumbar-vertebrae/aU2PzNBffrQAUosYUV4Nw_97XArpXysy_Vertebrae_lumbales_02.png "Lumbar vertebrae (Vertebrae lumbales); Image: Yousun Koh"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/body-of-the-vertebra/siWC8WCApnu7aOJgnaKbg_NMm2zoeFz1_Corpus_vertebrae_2.png "Vertebral body (Corpus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/vertebral-foramen/6PlxbIpKIN5QDCA5TzAw_s8ZZCXjF79_Foramen_vertebrale_2.png "Vertebral foramen (Foramen vertebrale); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/pedicle-of-the-vertebral-arch/lDEpbqKlxoAw7L1GhCZwg_Pediculus_arcus_vertebrae_02.png "Pedicle of vertebral arch (Pediculus arcus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lamina-of-the-vertebral-arch/Jvx0nJUu0djnlc6t64gOBA_w8ygcaRq4d_Lamina_arcus_vertebrae_2.png "Lamina of vertebral arch (Lamina arcus vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/spinous-process-3/QekbgUnRTw4Tk79lBkziA_Spinous_process_1.png "Spinous process of vertebra (Processus spinosus vertebrae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/transverse-process-3/mtfpqVcJVYSH8Q6aLJhscw_Transverse_process_1.png "Transverse process of vertebra (Processus transversus vertebrae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/mammillary-process/oJa9UQkfPHPFlgVacrgpA_Proc_mammillaris_02.png "Mammillary process of lumbar vertebra (Processus mammillaris vertebrae lumbalis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/accessory-process/UCDTvAnfIiUANYRysCjnQ_accesory-process-hihglights-magni-02.jpeg "Accessory process of lumbar vertebra (Processus accessorius vertebrae lumbalis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/costal-process-of-lumbar-vertebra/EPrWrF4VEdpmnebl7u5bfw_costal-process-lumbar-vertebra-superior.jpg "Costal process of lumbar vertebra (Processus costalis vertebrae lumbalis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/processus-articularis-superior/KjUYiJwktZLh8uNpP2Wadw_9JqX7AjEkg_Processus_articularis_superior_1.png "Superior articular process of vertebra (Processus articularis superior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/facies-articularis-superior/xzxNkQhtAyWjNG4oi4NsQ_Facies_articularis_superior_01.png "Superior articular facet of vertebra (Facies articularis superior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/inferior-articular-process-2/FEIM9pFSd8cgTSpLj9ZQ_Inferior_articular_process_1.png "Inferior articular process of vertebra (Processus articularis inferior vertebrae); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/inferior-articular-facet/41HFk5CC0oIf9JAMrJtMyg_K4ZiVZwKrr_Facies_articularis_inferior_2.png "Inferior articular facet of vertebra (Facies articularis inferior vertebrae); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/articulatio-zygapophysialis/Db4hgNlSP6fSmpMPb7VSJQ_eAvDzRqUbx_Articulatio_zygapophysialis_1.png "Zygapophyseal joint (Articulatio zygapophysialis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/foramen-intervertebrale/2xpcQjOgpZQSeAhpS9Dr4Q_cDLCQNmdyz_Foramen_intervertebrale_1.png "Intervertebral foramen (Foramen intervertebrale); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/intervertebral-joints-1/DQomuZgxUC6IavRmOvMSGw_Intervertebral_joints_5.png "Intervertebral joints (Articulationes intervertebrales); Image: Begoña Rodriguez"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/discus-intervertebralis/yzTtPcT3HHdREVdZKCM9A_8E6EokB2JY_Discus_intervertebralis_1.png "Intervertebral disc (Discus intervertebralis); Image: Liene Znotina"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/flexion-of-vertebral-column/rKUvb7AE5zy3rahFkVkS9w_Flexion_of_vertebral_column.png "Flexion of vertebral column (Flexio columnae vertebralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/extension-of-vertebral-column/vGXbfLLejyrR0rQrI8gtag_Extension_of_vertebral_column.png "Extension of vertebral column (Extensio columnae vertebralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
:watermark(/images/watermark_only.png,0,0,0):watermark(/images/logo_url.png,-10,-10,0):format(jpeg)/images/anatomy_term/lateral-flexion-of-the-spine/5KcGasiO4tnyVQuiCOWxw_spine_flexion.png "Lateral flexion of vertebral column (Flexio lateralis columnae vertebralis); Image: Paul Kim"){kind=logo}
Summary
| Structure | Five lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5) |
| Typical vertebra | Vertebral body, vertebral arch, spinous process, transverse process, accessory process, mammillary process, costal process |
| Joints |
Intervertebral symphyses: Between the bodies of the contiguous vertebrae Lumbosacral joint: Intervertebral and zygapophyseal joints between L5 and sacrum |
| Type | Anterior intervertebral joint: symphysis Facet joints: synovial plane joints |
| Articular surfaces | Anterior intervertebral joint: Inferior surface of L5 vertebral body, superior surface of S1 vertebral body Facet joints: superior articular processes of S1, inferior articular processes of L5 |
| Ligaments | Iliolumbar ligament, lateral lumbosacral ligament |
| Movements | Flexion, extension, lateral flexion |
Well done!
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