Intervertebral foramina

The intervertebral foramina (singular intervertebral foramen, " intervertebral foramen " ) are paired openings of the spinal canal. They are each formed by two adjacent vertebrae.

To the front they are limited by the intervertebral disc and the vertebral body back through the upper articular process of the lower vertebra. To top it be through the lower incision in the vertebral arch ( vertebral notch inferior) of the upper vertebra limited, down through the upper incision in the vertebral arch ( superior vertebral notch ).

They represent the lying sideways exit points of the so-called spinal nerves that exit the spinal canal between each two vertebrae. In the sacrum, the situation due to the fusion of the vertebrae is slightly different, the withdrawal occurs forward and backward through the sacral foramina. In addition to the nervous one finds blood vessels ( rami of spinal vertebral artery, Aa. Intercostal arteries and the superior. Lumbar and their accompanying veins ) before, and connective tissue and fat. Spondylarthrotische changes ( osteophytes ) can narrow the foramina.