The Lumbar Vertebrae (Vertebrae lumbales)
The
five lumbar vertebrae are especially large. The bodies of the vertebrae
(corpus vertebrae) are somewhat higher in the front than in the rear.
Its spine of the vertebrae (processus spinosus) is set up flat and
horizontally. The surfaces of the articular processes (processus
articulares inferiores et superiores) point towards the middle. The
upper articular processes more towards the side (processus articulares
superiores) envelope the lower of the next higher vertebrae.
There are little bone prominences on the exterior surfaces of the upper articular processes, which are designated as processus mamillares. The actual transverse processes of the lumbar vertebrae have receded. The lateral and rear processes consisting of rib material and fused with the vertebrae are designated as processsus costarii.
There is a little rough peak (processus accesorius) on the rear side of the processus costarii, which protrudes somewhat. The last lumbar vertebrae may be fused with the sacrum (os sacrum, the sacralization of the vertebrae).
Please click on the image below for a 3D view of the lumbar vertebrae
