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Intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra: anatomy, location and function

The intervertebral disc between L3 and L4 (the L3–L4 disc), a fibrocartilage pad with a gel-like nucleus pulposus inside a ring-like anulus fibrosus. Absorbs compressive loads, acts as a shock absorber and allows slight movement between vertebrae.

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Highlighted in the model: Intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra. Click any part to read about it, or switch off “Highlight topic” to see the whole body. 3D data: BodyParts3D, © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0; meshes simplified and recoloured. The model is an adult male.

Intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra at a glance

What it is
The intervertebral disc between L3 and L4 (the L3–L4 disc), a fibrocartilage pad with a gel-like nucleus pulposus inside a ring-like anulus fibrosus.
Location
Between the bodies of L3 and L4, the disc directly below the named vertebra (the L3/L4 disc).
Function
Absorbs compressive loads, acts as a shock absorber and allows slight movement between vertebrae.
Body system
Skeletal · single, midline structure
FMA ID
FMA16035 (Foundational Model of Anatomy)

Key facts

  • Lumbar puncture is often performed through the L3–L4 interspace, well below the end of the spinal cord.
  • Lumbar discs are the thickest in the column and, like the cervical discs, are taller anteriorly, producing the lumbar lordosis.

Clinical relevance

A posterolateral herniation usually compresses the L4 root, weakening the quadriceps, reducing the knee reflex and numbing the medial leg.

Structures next to the intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra

The nearest named structures in the 3D model, measured from the centre of each part:

References

  1. Foundational Model of Anatomy: Intervertebral disk of third lumbar vertebra (FMA16035). EMBL-EBI Ontology Lookup Service.
  2. OpenStax. Anatomy and Physiology 2e, §7.1 Divisions of the Skeletal System. Rice University, 2022.
  3. Mitsuhashi N. et al. (2009). BodyParts3D: 3D structure database for anatomical concepts. Nucleic Acids Research 37, D782–D785. Data © The Database Center for Life Science, CC BY 4.0.

Related anatomy

Explore the whole body in the interactive 3D human anatomy model, or browse the A–Z list of human structures.