How many lumbar vertebrae are there_How many lumbar vertebrae are there in the human body

From a medical perspective, the human spine is divided into 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae, 1 sacrum, and 1 coccyx. This is distributed according to the adult spine, and is different for children and adults. In adulthood, the coccyx vertebrae fuse into one piece. In addition, the cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, and sacral vertebrae all have their own physiological curvatures and are not in a straight line. This article introduces the content of the spine in detail. Let’s take a look.

There are 5 lumbar vertebrae, the vertebral bodies are tall, higher in the front and lower in the back, and are kidney-shaped. The vertebral foramen is large and triangular in shape, larger than that of the thoracic vertebrae and smaller than that of the cervical vertebrae. In the sagittal plane, the articular surface of the superior articular process is concave and faces posteriorly and medially, while the articular surface of the inferior articular process is convex and faces anterolaterally. There is a mastoid process on the outside of the upper joint, and the spinous process is a square bone plate that protrudes horizontally backward.

The spine (columnavertebralis), commonly known as the "backbone", is the axial skeleton of humans and vertebrates. It is composed of several irregularly shaped vertebrae connected to each other by intervertebral discs and ligaments. It supports the trunk and protects the internal organs. The human spine consists of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae, five lumbar vertebrae, one sacrum (composed of five sacral vertebrae), and one coccyx (composed of four coccygeal vertebrae). The vertebra has a spinous process that protrudes toward the dorsal side and can be felt under the skin on the midline of the back. It is one of the important landmarks for locating meridian points. There is a longitudinal "vertebral canal" inside the spine that contains the spinal cord. Under normal circumstances, the spine has four curves forward and backward, of which the cervical and lumbar parts are convex forward, and the thoracic and sacral parts are convex backward. The curvature of the spine is not only conducive to upright posture, but more importantly, it increases the elasticity of the spine, which can cushion the shock during walking and jumping, and has protective significance. This curvature often causes excessive kyphosis due to long-term improper posture or disease, resulting in deformity and hunchback.