Talk:Lumbar vertebrae

Intro wording
The introduction states that the lumbar vertebrae "can be distinguished by the absence of a foramen (hole) in the transverse process, and by the absence of facets on the sides of the body", but it does not make clear from what they can be thus distinguished. Is it from the other vertebrae? I can only guess.

My back hurts like hell and I can't get out bed.

It would be nice if this article linked to an article that could help me figure out why. I'll make a link if I can find such an article. --Pekinensis 20:21, 2 Mar 2005 (UTC) --Taoster 17:30, 7 October 2007 (UTC)
 * Bad wording on this one. Only the cervical vertebrae have the transverse foramen for the vertebral artery so it doesn't help to distinguish between thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.
 * One would hope that a reader who couldn't get out of bed stopped trying to use WP as a guide to self-treatment and arranged for transportation to an emergency room or immediate care center. --Jerzy•t 15:59, 28 March 2011 (UTC)

Intro, last sentence
Hi, I have made an edit to the last sentence of the intro which initially read like this:


 * "This area of the spine is the source of much body motion and supports most of the body weight."

I argue that the lumbar spine is the "source of much body motion" when pathological, injurious motor patterns are used. In biomechanically efficient, non-injurious motor patterns, the acetabulofemoral joint (hip) would likely be the "source". Besides, "much body motion" is too vague and unscientific.

I therefore also had to remove the given reference which presented the stated erroneous information. This "reference" (a business offering treatment for spine injuries) was a poor one, not worthy of being included in an encyclopedia.

If there is any disagreement with my edit, I will be happy to discuss here.

Patrick Roy-V., B.Sc. Kin, --75.119.229.36 (talk) 23:54, 3 October 2010 (UTC)
 * Further comment on the bad "reference". This link was, it seems, inserted for publicity, by user Truthinknowledge, whose edits all contain the same link (spam) and have also been reverted by other users. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.119.229.36 (talk) 01:22, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

Wording in General
Too many words are too technical, medical jargon, having no intuitive meaning for the average reader seeking information. It needs simplification or translation wherever possible. I can't help edit, without proceeding word by word with a medical dictionary. Or, would this overly simplify the article? I'm not sure.

What is Wiki-policy in such a situation? At what level is Wikipedia targeted? Wikipedia's genius, popularity and usefulness for me is that (written by consensus) it generally tells me exactly what real-people want to know, rather than that written by experts.

HalFonts (talk) 02:12, 18 October 2010 (UTC) --Jerzy•t 15:59, 28 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Ideally articles are written by experts who are able to write for other experts, but choose to write here for a wide range of non-experts. In practice that often happens, and it also often happens that non-experts manage to reword in ways that make experts say "Gosh, I wish I'd've thot of putting it that way!"

Sections "General characteristics" & "First to fifth lumbar vertebrae"
The sent
 * These are the general characteristics of the first through fourth lumbar vertebrae.

in "General characteristics" seems not to be accurate, i suppose bcz of characteristics common to all the lumbars. The "First to fifth lumbar vertebrae" section got misnamed when a secn abt L1 was merged with one abt L5, but that title has become even less descriptive. I don't expect to get it right in reorganizing and rewording, but i expect the result will be an improvement. --Jerzy•t 15:59, 28 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Would it not be better to follow the model of Thoracic vertebrae -- do the general characteristics, and then a separate section for each lumbar vertebra?


 *   Solo Owl   17:54, 9 April 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eall Ân Ûle (talk • contribs)
 * Yes it would. JakobSteenberg (talk) 18:29, 9 April 2013 (UTC)

Evolutionary variation
This section is almost impossible to understand. Why don't you just state how many lumbar vertebrae are normally found in each species? Maybe a table with separate lines for gorilla, chimpanzee, bonobo, and the various species of Homo, Australopithecus, etc.; in future years one can add to it as more data comes available.

The important point here, though, is that lordosis that makes possible upright bipedal walking and running. How did that evolve?

  Solo Owl   18:22, 9 April 2013 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Eall Ân Ûle (talk • contribs)

External links modified
Hello fellow Wikipedians,

I have just added archive links to 2 one external links on Lumbar vertebrae. Please take a moment to review my edit. If necessary, add after the link to keep me from modifying it. Alternatively, you can add to keep me off the page altogether. I made the following changes:
 * Added archive http://web.archive.org/web/20080922134431/http://www.medscape.com:80/viewarticle/542466_2 to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/542466_2
 * Added archive http://web.archive.org/web/20080922134436/http://www.medscape.com:80/viewarticle/542466_Tables to http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/542466_Tables#T1

When you have finished reviewing my changes, please set the checked parameter below to true or failed to let others know (documentation at Sourcecheck).

Cheers.—cyberbot II  Talk to my owner :Online 05:02, 28 February 2016 (UTC)

Other animals
I am deeply puzzled about how this article is named. It is "Lumbar vertebrae", but it clearly should be named "Lumbar vertebrae (human)", since T-bone steaks are cut from "Lumbar vertebrae (bovine)" and Pork chops are cut from "Lumbar vertebrae (pig)". In fact the Loin article is a perfect example of my objection to this article focusing on Human Anatomy to the exclusion of a multitude of other animals which have Lumbar Vertebrae, many of which are important in human cuisine. The "Loin" article begins with "The loins, or lumbus, are the sides between the lower ribs and pelvis, and the lower part of the back. The term is used to describe the anatomy of humans and quadrupeds, such as horses, pigs, or cattle. The anatomical reference also applies to particular cuts of meat, including tenderloin or sirloin steak." which is how I think this article should begin.

I changed the intro. I believe that the rest of the article, all that follows the section heading "Human anatomy" should be moved to a new article ""Lumbar vertebrae (human)". (I do not know how to do that correctly.) Then this article should be filled in with information about this topic as it applies to all other animals which have them. Do all Tetrapods have lumbar vetebrae? Or are they limited to all Amniotes? Which animals have them?

Nick Beeson (talk) 19:45, 31 March 2024 (UTC)