Not to be confused with Intervertebral foramen or vertebral canal.
Vertebral foramen
Latinforamen vertebrale
Caption 2A cervical vertebra. (Vertebral foramen is the large hole at the center.)

In a typical vertebra, the vertebral foramen is the foramen (opening) of a vertebra bounded ventrally/anteriorly by the body of the vertebra, and the dorsally/posteriorly by the vertebral arch.[1]: 421

In the articulated spine, the successive vertebral foramina of the stacked vertebrae (together with adjacent structures) collectively form the spinal canal (vertebral canal) which lodges the spinal cord and its meninges as well as spinal nerve roots and blood vessels.[1]: 452

See also

References

  1. ^ Sinnatamby, Chummy S. (2011). Last's Anatomy. 12th ed. ISBN 978-0-7295-3752-0.
  • - "Superior and lateral views of typical vertebrae"
  • Vertebral foramen[dead link] - BlueLink Anatomy - University of Michigan Medical School
  • - "Typical Lumbar Vertebra, Superior View; Lumbar Vertebral Column, Oblique Lateral View"