Which features are found on a cervical vertebra?

The presence of transverse foramina is a distinctive feature of cervical vertebrae. These foramina are unique openings located in the transverse processes that allow for the passage of the vertebral arteries and veins, which supply blood to the brain. This anatomical characteristic sets cervical vertebrae apart from those in the thoracic and lumbar regions, as they do not have these structures.

In contrast, cervical vertebrae do not typically possess a large, flat body as seen in lumbar vertebrae, which are more robust due to the weight they support. While cervical vertebrae do have relatively short spinous processes compared to the spines of thoracic vertebrae, this feature is not as defining as the presence of transverse foramina. Similarly, the transverse processes of cervical vertebrae, while they do extend laterally, are not characteristically larger than those of thoracic vertebrae; their defining trait is the presence of the foramina within them.