US Medical Term · anatomy
Lumbar Vertebrae
Vértebras lumbares
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Lumbar Vertebrae |
| Spanish (Español) | Vértebras lumbares |
| Chinese (中文) | 腰椎 |
| Korean (한국어) | 요추 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đốt sống thắt lưng |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Mga buto ng likod (lumbayyon) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Vértebras lombares |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | กระดูกสันหลังส่วนเอว |
| Japanese (日本語) | 腰椎 |
What it means
The lumbar vertebrae are the five large bones that make up the lower portion of your spine, labeled L1 through L5. They are located in your lower back, between the chest and the pelvis. Because they support most of your body weight and allow movement like bending and twisting, they are subject to a lot of stress. The lumbar region is a very common source of back pain. Conditions affecting this area include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, and compression fractures. Sciatica — pain that radiates down the leg — often originates from nerves in the lumbar spine being compressed or irritated.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
My lower back pain is in the lumbar area, around L4 and L5.
El dolor en la parte baja de la espalda está en el área lumbar, alrededor de L4 y L5.
The MRI showed a herniated disc between my lumbar vertebrae.
La resonancia magnética mostró un disco herniado entre las vértebras lumbares.
I have numbness going down my leg — could it be from my lumbar spine?
Tengo entumecimiento que baja por la pierna — ¿podría ser de la columna lumbar?
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026