Spinal vertebra anatomy, illustration. This is a cervical vertebra, from the neck, with the rear of the spine at bottom. This view is from above, with the spinal cord (yellow) at centre. The vertebrae of the backbone enclose and protect the spinal cord. Spinal nerves branch outwards from the spinal cord, with two seen here. The main body of the vertebra is at top, with the articular processes at centre left and centre right, and the transverse processes at upper right and upper left. At bottom is the bifid spinous process.