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Lumbar Vertebrae

The lumbar vertebrae are located in the lower back and support most of the upper body’s weight. Although most people have five, about 10 percent of adults have some sort of anatomical anomaly within the lower back, the most common of which is a sixth lumbar vertebra. The presence of an additional lumbar vertebra does not lead to greater instances of lower back pain, but is sometimes associated with an extra rib.

No matter how many lumbar vertebrae a person has, the lower back’s relative flexibility and load-bearing function make it the region of the back that is most vulnerable to spinal conditions that can cause excruciating and debilitating pain. These conditions can occur at any point along the lumbar vertebrae, which are delineated by the letter “L” for lumbar and a number that corresponds to their location.

About the Lumbar Vertebrae

• L1-L2 – the top of the lumbar region; here, the spinal cord ends and the cauda equina branches downward through the sacrum to the coccyx
• L3-L4 – the high range of motion here leads to breakdown from wear and tear associated with degenerative disc disease and osteoarthritis; the sciatic nerve originates here
• L5 – the vertebral body is deeper in front than most other vertebrae; there is a smaller spinous process, and a thicker transverse processes; this is the most common site of herniated disc and spondylolisthesis
• L6 – rarely found in most people, but vulnerable to the same sort of spinal conditions experienced at the L5 level in others

Treating Lumbar Spine Conditions

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Most chronic lower back pain symptoms can be managed through a course of conservative treatment recommended by your doctor. This usually includes a combination of physical therapy and pain medication, as well as other pain management strategies. If pain persists within the lumbar vertebrae even after weeks or months of conservative treatment, contact Laser Spine Institute (LSI) to learn how a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure performed using advanced, endoscopic techniques can help patients rediscover a life without pain.

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