Anatom3DFourth lumbar vertebra
Vertebra lumbalis IV · Čtvrtý bederní obratel
Skeleton
Looks like
A low back vertebra (L4), roughly level with the top of the hip bones.
What it does
Carries heavy load and allows much of the bending of the lower back.
Keeping it well
The L4–L5 disc is one of the two most commonly herniated; sciatica to the shin and big toe is typical.
Related conditions
- Achondroplasia
- Acromegaly
- Cauda equina syndrome
- Fractures
- Fragility fracture
- Frailty & falls in older age
- Herniated disc
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Non-specific low back pain
- Osteogenesis imperfecta (brittle bone disease)
- Osteomalacia & rickets
- Osteomyelitis (bone infection)
- Osteoporosis
- Paget's disease of bone
- Sarcoma
- Sciatica
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Vitamin B1, C and other deficiencies
- Vitamin D deficiency