Vertebral foramen

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Bone: Vertebral foramen
A typical thoracic vertebra, viewed from above. (Vertebral foramen is the large hole at the center.)
A cervical vertebra. (Vertebral foramen is the large hole at the center.)
Latin	foramen vertebrale
Gray's	subject #20 96

In a typical vertebra, the vertebral foramen is the foramen formed by the anterior segment (the body), and the posterior part, the vertebral arch.

The vertebral foramen begins at cervical vertebrae #1 (atlas) and continues inferior to lumbar vertebrae #5. Within this foramen the spinal cord and associated meninges are housed.

[edit] External links

• SUNY Figs 02:01-06
• Vertebral+foramen at eMedicine Dictionary
• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_bone16 - "Typical Lumbar Vertebra, Superior View; Lumbar Vertebral Column, Oblique Lateral View"

This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated. Please edit the article if this is the case, and feel free to remove this notice when it is no longer relevant.

v • d • e Bones of torso Sternum Suprasternal notch, Manubrium, Sternal angle, Body of sternum, Xiphisternal joint, Xiphoid process Rib specific ribs (1, 2, 9, 10, 11, 12, false – 8–12, floating – 11–12) – parts (Angle, Tubercle, Costal groove, Neck, Head) Vertebra General structures body of vertebra, vertebral arch (pedicle, lamina, vertebral notch), foramina (vertebral, intervertebral), processes (transverse, articular/zygapophysis, spinous), spinal canal Cervical vertebrae C1 (anterior arch, posterior arch, lateral mass), C2 (dens), C3, C4, C5, C6, C7 anterior tubercle, posterior tubercle, foramen transversarium Thoracic vertebrae T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6, T7, T8, T9, T10, T11, T12 costal facets (superior, inferior, transverse) Lumbar vertebrae accessory process, mammillary process, L5 Sacrum pelvic surface (anterior sacral foramina), dorsal surface (posterior sacral foramina, median sacral crest, medial sacral crest, lateral sacral crest), lateral surface (sacral tuberosity), base, sacral hiatus – presacral space – sacral promontory – sacral canal  – ala of sacrum – sacrovertebral angle Coccyx