Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Explained | Page 11

A
B
D
F
C
E
G
Figure 1.5
This is an illustration of a section of the lumbar spine.
A: This is the outer, tough part of the intervertebral disc, called the annulus
fibrosus. This is the part of the disc that tears when a patient develops a
slipped disc.
B: This is the soft, gel-like centre of the disc, called the nucleus pulposus. It
is the component that thrusts outward in a slipped disc.
C: This is the transverse process and is the part of the vertebra that protrudes
sideways. In the thoracic spine the ribs attach onto these processes.
D: This is the spinal canal that is formed by the vertebrae, in which the spinal
cord and nerves run.
E: This is the spinous process of the vertebra.
F: This is the lamina of the vertebra.
G: This is the pedicle of the vertebra.
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