- 3 ossification centers at birth
- vertebral body
- 2 neural arches
- The 2 neural arches fuse together posteriorly by 2–3 years of age.
- The neural arches each fuse to the body by 3–6 years of age.
- Cervical bodies are normally slightly wedge-shaped in pediatric population (narrower anteriorly).
- Wedging decreases with age.
