wervelbogen

The wervelbogen, or vertebral arch, is the posterior part of a vertebra that, together with the vertebral body, forms the vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord runs. It consists of pedicles and laminae and gives rise to several processes that project from the arch.

The pedicles extend from the sides of the vertebral body to the posterior elements. The laminae complete the posterior part of the arch by joining medially. These structures enclose the vertebral foramen and connect with neighboring elements to form the vertebral arch. From the arch arise the spinous process at the back and the transverse processes on the sides; the superior and inferior articular processes form the facet joints between adjacent vertebrae.

Functionally, the wervelbogen protects the spinal cord and its coverings by forming the vertebral canal. It distributes load and provides attachment points for muscles and ligaments. The facet joints, created by the articular processes, stabilize and guide spinal movement, while the vertebral foramina allow the exit of spinal nerves through the intervertebral foramina.

In development, all typical vertebrae possess a vertebral arch, though sacral and coccygeal vertebrae later fuse during adulthood. Variations and abnormalities can affect arch formation, such as spina bifida when the laminae fail to fuse in the region of the spinous process, increasing vulnerability of neural structures.

The term wervelbogen denotes the vertebral arch in Dutch, and in English it is called the vertebral arch.