Spinous process
Processus spinosus
- Latin synonym: Processus spinalis
Definition
The spinous process is directed backward and downward from the junction of the laminæ, and serves for the attachment of muscles and ligaments.
References
This definition incorporates text from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy (20th U.S. edition of Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body, published in 1918 – from http://www.bartleby.com/107/).
![Spinous process - Radiography spine - Cervical vertebrae [C I-C VII] - e-Anatomy](https://cdn.imaios.cn/i/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/rachis-radios/images/v1/43d8087e0b25f7b92bb2a07cecb2b0c9ff0a7c48aed94275bfc08acbe3061fd8?ar=640:670&auto=format,compress&bg=000000&fit=crop&p64=NDM1LDQxNg&t=U3Bpbm91cyBwcm9jZXNz&tx=435&ty=416&w=200&wk=1&s=ddc0c155d834d59ea86624b54df6f39b "Spinous process - Radiography spine - Cervical vertebrae [C I-C VII] - e-Anatomy")
![Spinous process - Radiography spine - Thoracic vertebrae [TI-TXII] - e-Anatomy](https://cdn.imaios.cn/i/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/rachis-radios/images/v1/22e17148fcdadff0cfaef81af948480a95c50f27d495bdcc9820db0eb51da59a?ar=640:670&auto=format,compress&bg=000000&fit=crop&p64=Mzc0LDU2MQ&t=U3Bpbm91cyBwcm9jZXNz&tx=374&ty=561&w=200&wk=1&s=84fe7355461fab7ea8c399d73e2a09f8 "Spinous process - Radiography spine - Thoracic vertebrae [TI-TXII] - e-Anatomy")
![Spinous process - Radiography spine - Lumbar vertebrae [LI-LV] - e-Anatomy](https://cdn.imaios.cn/i/imaios-images/web/images/eanatomy/modules/rachis-radios/images/v1/a5cdab94fbc84fd6aaa9f31b97fe273d38b955a2461cb7f7f318d8164d04e327?ar=640:670&auto=format,compress&bg=000000&fit=crop&p64=MzEyLDM2Ng&t=U3Bpbm91cyBwcm9jZXNz&tx=312&ty=366&w=200&wk=1&s=d59431d883b8fadd04f995bc7dddfb90 "Spinous process - Radiography spine - Lumbar vertebrae [LI-LV] - e-Anatomy")
