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This holds true for all vertebrae except C1. VertebraeĪ typical vertebra consists of a vertebral arch posteriorly and a body anteriorly. The vertebral column and the curvatures of the adult spine, lateral view. The secondary curvatures are convex anteriorly and augment the flexibility of the spine. The cervical and lumbar lordoses are secondary curvatures that develop after birth as a result of extension of the head and lower limbs when standing erect. These curvatures persist through adulthood as the thoracic and sacral curves. In the embryonic period, the spine curves into a C shape, forming two primary curvatures with their convex aspect directed posteriorly. The vertebral column consists of 33 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal segments) ( Figure 1). It is important, therefore, that the anesthesiologist be able to develop a three-dimensional mental image of the structures comprising the vertebral column. Pertinent to regional anesthesia, the vertebral column serves as the landmark for a wide variety of regional anesthesia techniques.
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Its four primary functions are protection of the spinal cord, support of the head, provision of an attachment point for the upper extremities, and transmission of weight from the trunk to the lower extremities. The vertebral column forms part of the axis of the human body, extending in the midline from the base of the skull to the pelvis. Orebaugh and Hillenn Cruz Eng INTRODUCTION