intervertebral foramen

anatomy

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Last updated

June 29, 2026

Quick Summary

The intervertebral foramen is an opening on each side of the spinal column, situated between adjacent vertebrae. These openings are formed by notches in the pedicles of the vertebrae and serve as passages for spinal nerves exiting the spinal canal.1

There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves, categorized by region: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal. Most spinal nerves exit the vertebral canal through an intervertebral foramen. Specifically, spinal nerves C1 through C7 exit above their corresponding numbered vertebrae, while C8 exits between the seventh cervical and first thoracic vertebrae. From T1 onward, all spinal nerves exit below their corresponding vertebrae.2

These exiting nerves control numerous bodily functions, including those of the digestive, endocrine, vascular, muscular, and respiratory systems.1

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human nervous system
Structural components of spinal nerves
… through an opening called the intervertebral foramen. The first spinal nerve (C₁) exits the vertebral canal between the skull and the first cervical vertebra; consequently, spinal nerves C₁–C₇ exit above the correspondingly numbered vertebrae. Spinal nerve C₈, however, exits between the 7th cervical and first thoracic vertebrae, so that, beginning…
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… through an opening called the intervertebral foramen. The first spinal nerve (C₁) exits the vertebral canal between the skull and the first cervical vertebra; consequently, spinal nerves C₁–C₇ exit above the correspondingly numbered vertebrae. Spinal nerve C₈, however, exits between the 7th cervical and first thoracic vertebrae, so that, beginning…
Read More