Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Function. Story by Anne Asher, CPT • 20y. Medically reviewed by Jennifer Steinhoff, MD. The lumbar spine includes the five vertebrae in your lower back numbered L1 to L5.

The spine, or backbone, is a long column of bones that runs down the center of a person’s back. It is essential for many functions, such as movement, support, and protecting the spinal cord.

Spinal Cord Anatomy The spinal cord is a vital part of the central nervous system, along with your brain. It’s around 50 centimeters long, though the length may vary in different individuals.

An Overview of Functional Anatomy Posteriorly, the bony arch encircles the spinal canal (Fig 1). It is composed of transverse processes, facet joints, two pedicles, two laminae, and a spinous process.

Spinal ligaments in the embryonic chick are homologous to those in the human spine. Credit: Journal of Anatomy (2025). DOI: 10.1111/joa.70006 ...

Axial MRI of the Lumbar Spine - T2 weighted image at the L4 level. On this view centered over the L4-L5 disk, one can see well the cauda equina surrounded by CSF (note that CSF is bright on ...

While wrong-site spinal surgeries are rare, the ramifications of a mistake can be devastating for patients, providers and health systems. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is taking systemwide action ...