Dance Anatomy & Kinesiology

The Spine 73

rior vertebral notch) and lower (inferior vertebral
notch) portions of the pedicles of adjacent vertebrae
form smaller openings called intervertebral foram-
ina as seen in figure 3.2B, which provide passageways
for the nerves to leave the spinal cord.
The vertebral arch also gives rise to seven pro-
cesses—one spinous, two transverse, two superior

articular, and two inferior articular. The spinous pro-

cess projects backward and downward from the junc-

tion of the paired laminae. The spinous processes

are the projections you can feel, or palpate, when

you run your finger down the back of your neck and

trunk. The spinous process that is particularly large

at the base of the neck belongs to C7, and due to its

FIGURE 3.1 Regions and curvatures of the vertebral column (lateral view) (A) at birth and (B) during adulthood.

FIGURE 3.2 Typical lumbar vertebra. (A) Superior view, (B) lateral view.

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