What is the purpose of our cervical, lumbar, and thoracic vertebrae?
Cervical, thoracic and lumber vertebrae are all parts of the vertebral column. Cervical vertebrae include the top seven vertebra in the cervical column. It allows the neck and head substantial movement. It also allows the skull to move up and down, and the upper neck to twist left and right. The thoracic vertebrae include the twelve vertebra after cervical vertebrae. These and their transverse processes have surfaces that articulate with the ribs. Thoracic vertebrae allows some rotation, but their connection with the rib cage prevents greater movement. Lumber vertebrae consists of 5 vertebra just below thoracic vertebrae. Being lower down in the body they need to support greater body weight. They allow considerable forward and backward bending and extension, moderate side bending, and a small degree of rotation.
