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Spinous Process

Spinous process is the medical term for each one of those bony knobs you can feel when you run your fingers along your spinal column.

Each vertebra is made up of several bony structures and the spinous process is the most prominent to us because we can actually feel it through the skin. The spinous process is an important site for the attachment of spinal muscles.

A typical vertebra is made up of the front segment and the back segment. The front of the vertebra (on the "stomach side" of the spine) mainly consists of an oval vertebral body, which is protected on the top and bottom by intervertebral discs. The back, or posterior, section has several elements:

• Two transverse processes and two pedicles that extend off the left and right of each vertebra
• Two articular processes, one attached to each of the pedicles
• A lamina attached to each of the articular processes
• The spinous process, a protruding bone at the back of the spine

Even with all of these strong elements, the vertebrae are vulnerable to a range of injuries and degenerative conditions, any of which can place stress on nerve roots and the spinal cord. Some back and neck conditions can be managed with physical therapy and mild medication, but occasionally, the following conditions can cause crippling pain and weakness:

• Spinal stenosis
• Bone spurs
• Bulging discs
• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Arthritis of the spine
• Facet disease

Click Here to see how you can get your life back in 5 days

For those diagnosed with conditions of the spine that are impacting the ability to function in everyday life, hope is available through the revolutionary outpatient procedures offered at Laser Spine Institute (LSI). Our gentle, minimally invasive procedures treat neck and back conditions at the source of the pain, allowing patients to heal in as little as two weeks and return to a functioning lifestyle.

Please contact LSI today to learn how our outpatient procedures can help you rediscover a life without pain, and to receive a free review of your MRI or CT scan.

Please note: Laser Spine Institute currently does not perform endoscopic procedures on the thoracic spine.