In Anatomy, What Is the Pedicle?
Derived from the Latin word pediculus, which means ‘little foot,’ a pedicle is one of a pair of short, cylindrically-shaped bone formations located on each vertebra of the human spine. This comparison of the pedicle to a small foot is most likely because these short processes extend from the vertebra, giving the appearance that it is standing on the bone formations. In human anatomy, each vertebra is comprised of two bone arches, called the anterior and posterior arches. These form an opening that the body’s primary nerve cord passes through. Pedicles are found on either side of the posterior arch, with the shapes directed slightly upward and to the back. A complex structure, the spine serves a number of essential functions that include flexibility of movement and providing the necessary structural support for upright posture. The spine is comprised of 33 vertebrae, and each is stacked on the next to create a kind of column. There are four distinct regions of the spine, identified as t
