Pedicle of vertebral arch

Bone: Pedicle of vertebral arch
A typical thoracic vertebra, viewed from above. (Pedicle labeled at left.)
A cervical vertebra. (Pedicle labeled at upper right.)
Latin pediculus arcus vertebrae, radix arcus vertebrae
Gray's subject #20 97

The pedicles (from Latin pediculus, "small foot") are two short, thick processes, which project dorsally, one on either side, from the superior part of the vertebral body at the junction of its posterior and lateral surfaces. They connect the body of the spinal vertebra to the arch. It is often used as a radiographic marker and entry point in vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and spinal fusion procedures.

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.