Basic vertebral anatomy

A "typical" vertebra, represented by L2.
(A) Functional components include the vertebral body (bone color), a vertebral arch (red), and seven processes: three for muscle attachment and leverage (blue) and four that participate in synovial joints with adjacent vertebrae (yellow).
(B, C) Bony formations of the vertebrae are demonstrated. The vertebral foramen is bounded by the vertebral arch and body. A small superior vertebral notch and a larger inferior vertebral notch flank the pedicle.
(D) The superior and inferior notches of adjacent vertebrae plus the IV disc that unites them form the IV foramen for the passage of a spinal nerve and its accompanying vessels. Note that each articular process has an articular facet where contact occurs with the articular facets of adjacent vertebrae (B-D).