L2 or Second Lumbar Vertebra, Lateral View

Description

Oriented in strict lateral profile, the L2 vertebra is presented with the vertebral body anteriorly and the vertebral arch posteriorly, allowing the pedicle and lamina to be read as a continuous bony bridge toward the spinous process. Superior and inferior vertebral notches on the pedicle are cut deep and well defined, with the superior and inferior articular processes stacked posterior to the body and their facet surfaces positioned for zygapophysial (facet) joint articulation with L1 and L3. Transverse processes project laterally from the junction of pedicle and lamina, while cancellous (spongy) bone texture is visible within the body, consistent with the lumbar load-bearing pattern. A clear silhouette. This angle is the one you want when teaching how the intervertebral foramen is formed: the inferior vertebral notch of L2 and the superior vertebral notch of L3 complete the bony margins, and degenerative hypertrophy at the facet joint or osteophytes at the vertebral body can narrow that space and contribute to lumbar radiculopathy. L2 is also a useful reference level for understanding why lumbar flexion-extension mechanics differ from the thoracic spine, since the lumbar articular facets favor sagittal plane motion while limiting axial rotation. The morphology of the pedicle and notches becomes clinically relevant during pedicle screw trajectory planning and when explaining iatrogenic risks in posterior approaches. Ideal for gross anatomy and musculoskeletal modules covering the backbone, for spine surgery textbooks illustrating facet joint anatomy, and for radiology teaching files that correlate lateral vertebral landmarks with lumbar oblique radiographs and CT reconstructions. It also supports patient-facing education around foraminal stenosis by clearly isolating the notches and processes without adjacent soft tissue. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.