Typical lumbar vertebra (Latin)

A typical vertebra lumbalis bears a large and ellipsoid corpus vertebrae which increases in size from L1 to L5. The arcus vertebrae lumbales are noticeably smaller, therefore enclosing a relatively narrow canalis vertebralis. The processus spinosus is thick and short and nearly horizontally oriented. The processus transversi are more slender than those in the upper segments of the columna vertebralis and are devoid of any facies articulares. The processus articulares superior vertebrae are concave and face medially, whereas the processus articulares inferior vertebrae are convex and are laterally oriented towards the processus articulares superior vertebrae of the next vertebra. The distinguishing components of the vertebrae lumbales are the processus accessorus et mammillaris, which serve as the attachment sites for the musculi dorsi proprii; the processus accessorii projects from the radices processus transversi (not shown), while the processus mammillari project from the posterior surfaces of the processus articulares superior vertebrae. The processus costalis is an apophysis said to be the homolog of a rib which forms the anterolateral portion of the processus transversus.