L4 Vertebra Section, Lateral View

Description

L4 is rendered in lateral profile with the lumbar segment aligned to show the vertebral body anteriorly and the vertebral arch posteriorly. The squat, rectangular corpus vertebrae sits superior to the L4–L5 intervertebral disc and inferior to the L3–L4 disc, while the pedicle and lamina sweep posteriorly toward the spinous process. Facet (zygapophysial) joints are implied at the posterior column, with the superior articular process of L4 positioned posterolaterally and the inferior articular process directed anterolaterally toward L5. A highlighted lumbar region isolates the level for quick identification against the broader spinal curvature. Lateral lumbar views matter because they map load-bearing anatomy to symptoms and approach. At L4, degenerative disc disease and spondylolisthesis commonly alter the relationship between the posterior vertebral line and the L4–L5 disc space, and this is the level where narrowing can contribute to central canal stenosis and L5 radiculopathy. Pedicle orientation at L4 also guides trajectory planning for pedicle screw fixation, while the facet joint angle helps explain why extension can aggravate facet-mediated low back pain. Clean landmarks. No distraction. Use this illustration for lumbar spine modules in gross anatomy, orthopaedics, or radiology teaching when you need a clear side-on reference for vertebral body shape, disc spacing, and segmental alignment at L4. It also fits well in patient-facing education on lumbar degenerative change, and in surgical textbooks discussing L4–L5 pathology and fixation planning. Anatomical accuracy verified by SciePro's Medical Advisory Board.