Last Thoracic & First Lumbar Vertebrae (Lateral view)		Note the similarity in these two vertebrae. Both have their postzygapophyses oriented laterally and the dorsal spines are similar in structure. The major difference in the two is the presence of flattened transverse processes on the lumbar vertebra and demifacets on the thoracic vertebra
Last Thoracic & First Lumbar Vertebrae (Ventral view)		In the ventral view, the modifications are more prominent. The demifacets articulate with the heads of the thirteenth pair of ribs. Click here to see how the thoracic vertebrae articulate with the ribs. Return to thoracic vertebrae Return to vertebral column