The lumbar neural arch consists of paired pedicles and laminae forming the posterior bony ring around the spinal canal. The pedicles project posterolaterally from the vertebral body, and the laminae extend posteromedially to join at the spinous process. The neural arch contains the spinal canal and provides the structural foundation for the posterior elements.
| Articulations |
|
|---|---|
| Landmarks |
|
| Ossification | Two neural arch ossification centres (one per side) appear at 7-9 weeks gestation and fuse to each other posteriorly by age 1-2 and to the vertebral body by age 3-6. |
The lumbar neural arch is the surgical territory for laminectomy, laminotomy, and pedicle screw instrumentation. Pedicle screws traverse the pedicle from posterolateral to anteromedial within the vertebral body, requiring precise knowledge of pedicle anatomy. The pars interarticularis at the pedicle-lamina junction is the site of spondylolysis stress fractures. Burst fractures disrupt the posterior wall of the neural arch, risking retropulsion of bone into the spinal canal.
A stress fracture through the pars interarticularis of the neural arch, most commonly at L5 in young athletes.
Thickening of the laminae, facets, and ligamentum flavum narrows the canal and causes neurogenic claudication.
This website uses cookies to enhance your experience. Some are essential for site functionality, while others help us analyze and improve your usage experience. Please review your options and make your choice.
If you are under 16 years old, please ensure that you have received consent from your parent or guardian for any non-essential cookies.
Your privacy is important to us. You can adjust your cookie settings at any time. For more information about how we use data, please read our privacy policy. You may change your preferences at any time by clicking on the settings button below.
Note that if you choose to disable some types of cookies, it may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer.
Some required resources have been blocked, which can affect third-party services and may cause the site to not function properly.
This website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and ensure the site functions properly. By continuing to use this site, you acknowledge and accept our use of cookies.
