View source for Intervertebral foramina

{{Infobox Bone |
  Name         = Intervertebral foramina |
  Latin        = foramina intervertebralia |
  GraySubject  = 20 |
  GrayPage     = 96 |
  Image        = Gray95.png |
  Caption      = [[Sacrum]], pelvic surface. (The two rows of four holes are the intervertebral foramina of sacrum, visible but not labeled.) |
  System       = |
  Precursor    = |
  MeshName     = |
  MeshNumber   = |
  DorlandsPre  = f_12 |
  DorlandsSuf  = 12373154  |
}}

{{SI}}


==Overview==
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 foraminae constitute a canal for the protection of the medulla spinalis ([[spinal cord]]). Between every pair of vertebræ are two apertures, the '''intervertebral foramina''' (singular: '''foramen'''; also called '''neural foramina''').  The foramen allows for the passage of the spinal nerve root, 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.

Their size is variable due to placement, pathology, spinal loading, and posture. They can be occluded by [[arthritic]] degenerative changes and space-occupying lesions like [[tumor]]s, [[metastases]] and [[spinal disc herniation]]s.

==External links==
* [http://sprojects.mmi.mcgill.ca/lumbar/My%20Project/Anatomy/intervforam2.gif Diagram at mcgill.ca]
* {{WaynesburgAnatomicModel|skeleton2/intervertebralforamen}}
* [http://www.emory.edu/ANATOMY/AnatomyManual/38.jpg Diagram at emory.edu]
* {{RocheLexicon|06363.008-2}}

{{Gray's}}
{{Spine}}

[[pt:Forame intervertebral]]
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