Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature

The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord.
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form the...

General Structure of a Vertebra

General Structure of a Vertebra

A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous column.

Muscles of the Vertebral Column

Muscles of the Vertebral Column

The back muscles that lie deep into the thoracolumbar fascia are called intrinsic or true back muscles. These muscles are divided into four layers: superficial, intermediate, deep, and deepest layers.
Superficial Layer:
The superficial layer consists primarily of the splenius muscles, which include the splenius capitis and splenius cervicis. These muscles are mainly responsible for the head and cervical spine movements, including extension, rotation, and lateral bending. The splenius capitis...

Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy

Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy

The spinal cord resides within the protective confines of the vertebral column. It is the main pathway for information traveling between the brain and the body. It plays a fundamental role in nearly all bodily functions, from simple reflexes to complex motor movements. The spinal cord begins at the medulla oblongata at the base of the brainstem and extends downward, terminating at the conus medullaris near the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord's length in adults is...

Cranial and Spinal Meninges

Cranial and Spinal Meninges

The cranial and spinal meninges are complex protective structures surrounding the central nervous system (CNS), consisting of the brain and spinal cord. These meninges consist of the dura mater, the arachnoid mater, and the pia mater. They protect the CNS, provide structural support, and aid in circulating cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
Cranial Meninges
These meningeal layers cover the cranium. The dura mater is the outermost layer of cranial meninges. It is a thick and durable membrane of dense...

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Dermatological adverse effects of anti-glaucoma eye drops: a review.

Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV·2022

Same author

Investigating the impact of remediation efforts on Hedistediversicolor in the Seine estuary using multiple levels of biological organization.

Marine environmental research·2021

Same author

[Knee pain in a child : watch out for the hip !]

Revue medicale de Liege·2021

Same author

Preoperative portal vein or portal and hepatic vein embolization: DRAGON collaborative group analysis.

The British journal of surgery·2021

Same author

[How I explore… a non-traumatic gonalgia].

Revue medicale de Liege·2021

Same author

[Osteosynthesis for proximal humeral fractures : plate or nail ? Results of a retrospective monocentric study].

Revue medicale de Liege·2020

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery

Published on: August 17, 2022

Vertebra plana: benign or malignant lesion?

M Baghaie¹, P Gillet, R F Dondelinger

¹Department of Medical Imaging, University Hospital Sart Tilman, B-4000 Liege 1, Belgium.

Pediatric Radiology

|January 1, 1996

Summary

A pediatric vertebra plana case initially diagnosed as eosinophilic granuloma was re-evaluated. Advanced imaging and biopsy revealed a misdiagnosis, ultimately identifying osteosarcoma.

Area of Science:

Pediatric Oncology
Skeletal Radiology
Surgical Pathology

Background:

Vertebra plana, a vertebral body compression, can present diagnostic challenges in pediatric cases.
Initial clinical and radiological findings may suggest common benign conditions like eosinophilic granuloma.

Observation:

A 9-year-old boy presented with T7 vertebra plana, initially suspected as eosinophilic granuloma based on imaging.
A radionuclide bone scan was positive, prompting a biopsy of the posterior arch.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) demonstrated extraspinal tumor extension.

Findings:

Biopsy results were initially suggestive of a giant cell tumor.
Final histopathological analysis after vertebrectomy confirmed the diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

More Related Videos

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity

Published on: September 16, 2022

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Published on: May 17, 2024

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 9, 2026

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery

Intraoperative Ultrasound in Spinal Surgery

Published on: August 17, 2022

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity

Modified Posterior Vertebral Column Resection for Patients with Thoracolumbar Kyphotic Deformity

Published on: September 16, 2022

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Identifying, Diagnosing, and Grading Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors in Genetically Engineered Mouse Models

Published on: May 17, 2024

This case highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for pediatric vertebral lesions.

Implications:

Misdiagnosis can delay appropriate treatment for aggressive bone tumors in children.
Multimodality imaging and thorough histopathological review are crucial for accurate diagnosis.
Early and correct diagnosis of pediatric osteosarcoma is vital for treatment planning and prognosis.