| Type | Intervertebral disc joint: Cartilaginous joint; symphysis |
| | Zygapophyseal joint: Synovial plane joint, nonaxial, uniplanar |
| Articular surfaces | Intervertebral disc joint: Articular surfaces on vertebral bodies |
| | Zygapophyseal joint: Articular surfaces on articular processes |
| Ligaments | Longitudinal ligaments (anterior, posterior), ligamenta flava, interspinous ligaments, intertransverse ligaments, supraspinous ligaments, nuchal ligament (cervical spine only) |
| Innervation | Intervertebral disc joint: sinuvertebral nerve |
| | Zygapophyseal joint: sinuvertebral nerve, medial branch of the posterior ramus of spinal nerve |
| Blood supply | Segmental arteries |
| Movements | Flexion, extension, lateral flexion and axial rotation of the vertebral column |