The vertebral body is the weight-bearing portion of the vertebra. Forming the ~anterior~ (forward) part of the vertebra, the body of each vertebra has two articular surfaces. These surfaces are the faces of the |vertebrae| which articulate, or join with, the other |vertebrae|. The top surface, which bears the weight of the spinal column above it, is called the superior articular surface. The bottom face of the vertebral body is called the inferior articular surface, and rests on the vertebra below it. Between the articular surfaces of separate |vertebrae| are the |intervertebral disks|, made of ~cartilage~, which cushion the articular surfaces of the |vertebrae| from |shock| trauma.
