Vertebral body
Vertebral Body
The vertebral body is the anterior portion of a vertebra, one of the many small bones that make up the vertebral column or backbone. It is the largest part of a vertebra and is designed to bear weight and withstand compressive forces.
Anatomy[edit | edit source]
The vertebral body is cylindrical in shape and its superior and inferior surfaces are flat and rough for the attachment of intervertebral discs. The outer part of the vertebral body is made up of compact bone, also known as cortical bone, which is strong and durable. The inner part is made up of trabecular bone, also known as cancellous or spongy bone, which is softer and more flexible.
Function[edit | edit source]
The primary function of the vertebral body is to support weight. It does this by distributing compressive forces evenly across the vertebral column. The vertebral body also protects the spinal cord, which runs through the vertebral foramen, a hole in the center of the vertebra.
Clinical significance[edit | edit source]
Conditions that can affect the vertebral body include osteoporosis, vertebral compression fractures, and spinal stenosis. These conditions can cause pain, disability, and other symptoms.
See also[edit | edit source]
Translate: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD