Corpus: Vertebral body

The vertebral bodies are the short, cylindrically shaped structural elements of a vertebra that make up its main mass. The vertebral arches are attached to them. The vertebral bodies are connected to each other via intervertebral discs. The vertebral foramen (vertebral foramen) extends between the back surface of the vertebral body and the vertebral arch.

Depending on its localisation in the spinal column (cervical, thoracic, lumbar), a vertebral body has different functional subtleties. However, some structural principles are common to all vertebral bodies.

At the end surfaces of the vertebral body, the so-called marginal ridges protrude like bulges as epiphyses of the vertebral body. The posterior surface of the vertebral body is almost flat, while the lateral and anterior surfaces are slightly concave.

The corticalis of the vertebral bodies is usually extremely thin, the cancellous bone inside is mainly aligned with its small bone bundles in the vertical plane along the main biomechanical directions of stress. There is bone marrow between the bone beams.

Venous drainage of the vertebral bodies is provided by the basivertebral veins.

The space between two neighbouring vertebral bodies is called the intervertebral space. It is filled by the intervertebral disc.

The vertebral bodies fulfil the actual supporting function of the spinal column. Together with the intervertebral discs, they form the support for the trunk, upper extremities and head.

Malformations during embryogenesis or diseases later in life can lead to deformities of the vertebral bodies. Examples are

• Block vertebrae
• hemivertebrae
• Butterfly vertebrae

• Image source podcast: © LJ / Pexels