Sectioned C3 Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

Sectioned at the level of the mid cervical spine, the C3 vertebra is presented in lateral profile with the vertebral body anterior and the spinous process posterior, shorter and typically bifid compared with the more prominent C7 spine. Superior and inferior vertebral endplates frame the intervertebral disc spaces, while the pedicle and lamina bridge posteriorly to form the vertebral arch and delineate the vertebral foramen. Laterally, the transverse process projects from the vertebral arch, and the superior and inferior articular processes stack to form the C2 to C3 and C3 to C4 zygapophysial (facet) joints. A blue locator marks the upper cervical level within a full-spine lateral curvature context. This lateral, sectioned presentation matters because it clarifies how load transfer through the cervical vertebral body relates to the posterior elements that guide motion and encroach on the spinal canal when degenerative change develops. Small shifts in disc height at C3 to C4, osteophyte formation along the uncovertebral region, or facet hypertrophy can narrow the spinal canal or intervertebral foramen and contribute to cervical myelopathy or radiculopathy patterns that clinicians localize by level. The short C3 spinous process is also a practical landmark when correlating palpation with fluoroscopic level checks, where counting up from C7 often introduces error. Use this asset for gross anatomy and neuroradiology teaching when you need a clean lateral reference for cervical vertebral morphology, sagittal alignment, and level identification, or for spine surgery and pain medicine materials describing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion planning at adjacent levels. It also fits textbook diagrams on spondylosis, facet arthropathy, and sagittal balance, where the relationship between vertebral body, canal, and posterior elements must read instantly. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.