Intervertebral foramen

Intervertebral foramen
Peculiar thoracic vertebrae. Intervertebral foramina are indicated by arrows.
Sacrum, pelvic surface. (The two columns of four holes are the intervertebral foramina of sacrum, visible but not labeled.)
Details
Identifiers
Latin	foramen intervertebrale (pl. foramina intervertebralia)
Dorlands /Elsevier	f_12/12373154
TA	A02.2.01.008
FMA	75346
*Anatomical terms of bone*

The intervertebral foramen (also called neural foramen, and often abbreviated as IV foramen or IVF), is a foramen between two spinal vertebrae. Cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebrae all have intervertebral foramina.

The foramina, or openings, are present between every pair of vertebrae in these areas. A number of structures pass through the foramen. These are the root of each spinal nerve, dorsal root ganglion, the spinal artery of the segmental artery, communicating veins between the internal and external plexuses, recurrent meningeal (sinu-vertebral) nerves, and transforaminal ligaments.

When the spinal vertebrae are articulated with each other the bodies form a strong pillar for the support of the head and trunk, and the vertebral foramen constitutes a canal for the protection of the medulla spinalis (spinal cord).

The size of the foramina is variable due to placement, pathology, spinal loading, and posture.

Foramina can be occluded by arthritic degenerative changes and space-occupying lesions like tumors, metastases and spinal disc herniations.

Specifically the intervertebral foramen is bound by the superior notch of the adjacent vertebra, the inferior notch of the vertebra, the vertebral body, and facet joints on the transverse process of the vertebra.

Projectional radiograph of a man presenting with pain by the nape and left shoulder, showing a stenosis of the left intervertebral foramen of cervical spinal nerve 4 due to age-related degenerative changes, corresponding with the affected dermatome.

References

This article incorporates text in the public domain from the 20th edition of Gray's Anatomy (1918)

External links

Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton2/intervertebralforamen
Diagram at emory.edu
"Anatomy diagram: 06363.008-2". Roche Lexicon - illustrated navigator. Elsevier. Archived from the original on 2014-01-01.

Bones of torso

Vertebrae

General structure	Body Arch pedicle lamina notch Vertebral foramen Intervertebral foramen Processes transverse articular spinous Spinal canal
Cervical vertebrae	Uncinate process of vertebra Transverse foramen Anterior tubercle Carotid tubercle Posterior tubercle Atlas lateral mass anterior arch posterior arch Axis dens Vertebra prominens
Thoracic vertebrae	Costal facets superior inferior transverse Uncinate process of vertebra
Lumbar vertebrae	Processes accessory mammillary
Sacrum	Base sacral promontory Ala of sacrum Lateral surface sacral tuberosity Pelvic surface anterior sacral foramina Dorsal surface posterior sacral foramina Median sacral crest Medial sacral crest Lateral sacral crest Sacral canal sacral hiatus
Coccyx	Coccygeal cornu

Thorax

Rib cage	Ribs true ribs false ribs floating ribs Parts angle tubercle costal groove neck head
Sternum	Suprasternal notch Manubrium Sternal angle Body of sternum Xiphisternal joint Xiphoid process
Thoracic cage	Thoracic inlet Thoracic outlet Intercostal space Costal margin Infrasternal angle

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