Lumbar spine (Columna vertebralis lumbalis)
Educational content only — not medical advice.
Anatomy
Five massive vertebrae (L1–L5) bearing the heaviest loads of the spine; the L4–L5 and L5–S1 levels are the classic site of disc herniation compressing the sciatic nerve.
Clinical notes
Low back pain is the leading cause of work absence worldwide; lumbar herniation causes sciatica with pain radiating down the leg.
Related structures
Educational references
FAQ
What is the role of the Lumbar spine?
Five massive vertebrae (L1–L5) bearing the heaviest loads of the spine; the L4–L5 and L5–S1 levels are the classic site of disc herniation compressing the sciatic nerve.
Why is the Lumbar spine clinically important?
Low back pain is the leading cause of work absence worldwide; lumbar herniation causes sciatica with pain radiating down the leg.
Source & license
Derived from Z-Anatomy (Gauthier Kervyn et al.), CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/); upstream geometry from BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science. license details