Figure 1-17.Vertebral column: A. Left lateral view of vertebral column; B. Posterior view of vertebral column.

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lumbar (lower back), and sacral and coccygeal (pelvis). Cervical.—There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck. The first is called the atlas and resembles a bony ring. It supports the head. The second is the highly specialized axis. It has a bony prominence that fits into the ring of the atlas, thus permitting the head to rotate from side to side. The atlas and the axis are the only named vertebrae; all others are numbered. See figure 1-19. Each cervical vertebra has a transverse (or intervertebral) foramen (fig. 1-19) to allow passage of nerves, the vertebral artery, and a vein. The seventh cervical vertebra has a prominent projection that can easily be felt at the nape of the neck. This landmark makes it possible for physicians to count and identify the vertebrae above and below it. Thoracic.—There are 12 vertebrae in the thoracic region. The thoracic vertebrae articulate with the posterior portion of the 12 ribs to form the posterior wall of the thoracic, or chest, cage. 1-10 HM3F0117 VERTEBRA PROMINENS RIB FACET VERTEBRAE INTERVERTEBRAL DISKS INTERVERTEBRAL FORAMINA SACRUM COCCYX CERVICAL VERTEBRAE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE THORACIC VERTEBRAE THORACIC VERTEBRAE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE PELVIC CURVATURE LUMBAR VERTEBRAE A. B. Figure 1-17.—Vertebral column: A. Left lateral view of vertebral column; B. Posterior view of vertebral column.

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