ABSTRACT
The vertebral column supports the weight of the body as well as containing the spinal cord and emerging spinal nerves. It must be strong but flexible, therefore, it is composed of a series of vertebrae, with limited movement available between consecutive vertebrae. A typical vertebra has a body (1), two pedicles (2) and two laminae (3), which fuse at the spinous process (4), and two transverse processes (5). The inferior and superior (6) articular facets form synovial joints with equivalent facets on the vertebra above and below.
