Site-specific differences in the inclination of the articular surface of the vertebral articular process
- In the cervical verbrae, the articular surfaces are located in the horizontal plane, in the thoracic vertebrae in the anterior plane, and in the lumbar vertebrae in the sagittal plane. Therefore, movement in these planes is possible. In other words, the cervical vertebrae can mainly rotate the neck (turn left and right), the thoracic vertebrae can flex the trunk laterally, and the lumbar vertebrae can flex the trunk anteriorly and posteriorly.
| Flexion | Extension | Lateral flexion | Axial rotation |
Cervical vertebrae | 40˚ | 75˚ | 35-45˚ | 45-50˚ |
Thoracic vertebrae | 45˚ | 25˚ | 20˚ | 35˚ |
Lumbar vertebrae | 60˚ | 35˚ | 20˚ | 5˚ |