Lamina of vertebral arch

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Description:

The lumbar laminae are short, thick plates of bone angling posteromedially from the pedicle. The two laminae meet in the midline to form the base of the spinous process. The height of the laminae is shorter than that of the bodies creating posterior gaps in the articulated vertebral column. These gaps are used clinically as the sites for lumbar puncture. The laminae are sites of attachment for numerous muscles and ligaments.