Intervertebral Foramen

foramen intervertebrale

An intervertebral foramen is the opening between the pedicles of two adjacent vertebrae through which a spinal nerve and its vessels leave the vertebral canal. It is bounded in front by the vertebral bodies and disc, above and below by the pedicles, and behind by the facet joint. In the neck the foramina face anterolaterally and are closely related to the uncovertebral joints.

Anatomical Data

Structure & Landmarks

Articulations	No joint; bounded by the intervertebral disc and the facet (zygapophyseal) joint of adjacent vertebrae
Landmarks	Inferior vertebral notch of the vertebra above Superior vertebral notch of the vertebra below Uncovertebral joint (anterior, cervical spine) Facet joint (posterior)
Ossification	Formed between adjacent vertebrae as their bodies and neural arches ossify; it reaches its adult form as the pedicles and vertebral bodies grow.

Clinical Relevance

Clinical Notes

Narrowing of the foramen (foraminal stenosis) by disc bulge, uncovertebral and facet osteophytes, or loss of disc height compresses the exiting nerve root, causing radiculopathy. In the neck this produces arm pain, numbness and weakness in a root pattern. Oblique radiographs, CT and MRI assess the foramina, and foraminotomy surgery enlarges them.

Pathology

Common Injuries & Conditions

Cervical Foraminal Stenosis

Osteophytes and disc degeneration narrow the foramen and compress the exiting root, causing radiating arm pain and numbness.

Cervical Radiculopathy from Disc Herniation

A lateral disc herniation into the foramen compresses the nerve root, typically at C5-C6 or C6-C7.

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