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Body of vertebra

The body of a vertebra is the large, anterior, weight-bearing portion of a vertebra, forming the primary structural support of the spinal column. It consists of cortical bone forming a dense outer shell and trabecular bone internally, which contains bone marrow. The superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral body articulate with adjacent intervertebral discs, transmitting compressive loads between vertebrae.

Vertebral bodies vary in size and shape depending on spinal level: cervical vertebral bodies are smaller and wider side-to-side, thoracic vertebral bodies are heart-shaped with costal facets, and lumbar vertebral bodies are large and robust, supporting greater mechanical load. The vertebral body serves as the anterior pillar of the spine, protecting the spinal cord indirectly by maintaining alignment and spacing of the vertebral canal.

Function

  • Primary weight-bearing structure of the vertebra

  • Provides attachment to intervertebral discs for load transmission

  • Maintains spinal alignment and vertebral column height

  • Supports mechanical stresses during movement and posture

  • Houses bone marrow, contributing to hematopoiesis

Synonyms

  • Vertebral body

  • Corpus vertebrae

  • Centrum of vertebra

MRI Appearance

T1-weighted images:

  • Vertebral body shows intermediate to high signal intensity in the bone marrow, reflecting fat content

  • Cortical bone is low signal (hypointense), forming a distinct outer margin

  • Pathologies like fractures, metastases, or sclerotic lesions alter signal intensity

T2-weighted images:

  • Trabecular bone marrow shows intermediate to high signal depending on water content

  • Cortical margins remain low signal

  • Degenerative or pathological changes, such as edema or marrow replacement, appear hyperintense in T2

STIR (Short Tau Inversion Recovery):

  • Cortical bone remains hypointense, while bone marrow edema, fractures, or inflammatory lesions appear hyperintense

  • Useful for acute vertebral fractures, infection, or metastatic disease detection

T1 Post-Contrast (Gadolinium-enhanced):

  • Normal vertebral body shows mild, homogeneous enhancement of marrow if vascularized

  • Pathological conditions (tumor, infection, osteomyelitis) show enhancement in affected areas, aiding in lesion delineation

CT Appearance:

  • Vertebral body appears as a dense cortical shell with slightly lower-density trabecular bone inside

  • Excellent for identifying fractures, osteophytes, lytic or sclerotic lesions, and congenital anomalies

  • Axial, sagittal, and coronal reconstructions clearly show body height, endplate contour, and alignment

MRI images

Body of vertebra mri axial image

MRI images

Body of vertebra mri l spine sag image

MRI images

Body of vertebra mri sag image

CT image

body of vertebrae CT axial image

CT 3D VRT image

body of vertebrae 3D IMAGE