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L5 vertebra

Authoring team

The L5 vertebra is atypical amongst the 5 lumbar vertebrae in that:

  • body: deeper anterior margin than posterior margin
  • transverse processes:
    • medially, fused mainly with posterolateral margin of body and only slightly with pedicle
    • shorter and more apically rounded than superior vertebrae
    • can fuse with the lateral sacrum
  • inferior articular process:
    • more widely separated in the transverse plane than in superior vertebrae
    • plane of articulating surface directed more anterolaterally than superior vertebrae
  • spinous process shorter and has a terminal bulbous rounding

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