"Cupid's bow" contour of the lumbar vertebrae

The cortical margin of the inferior end plate of lumbar vertebral bodies, in the frontal projection, frequently simulates the curvature of a bow, aimed cephalad. On lateral view, the two concavities are superimposed and lie in the posterior portion of the vertebral body. The aspect, called "Cupid's bow" must be considered a normal anatomic variant and should not be confused with diseases affecting the spine. The incidence and degree of the finding are discussed.     

"Cupid's bow" contour of the lumbar vertebral endplates detected by computed tomography

A characteristic pattern of altered lumbar spine endplate morphology has been frequently noted in patients being evaluated for unrelated indications. The "owl's eyes" configuration of intravertebral disc material on axial transverse computed tomographic sections easily distinguishes this normal variant from pathologic processes. Two representative cases are provided for illustration, one of which on coronal reformations demonstrated the normal "Cupid's bow" contour previously described on frontal plain radiographs.