An intervertebral prosthetic disc that is configured to be installed
within an intervertebral space that can be established between an
inferior vertebra and a superior vertebra is disclosed. The
intervertebral prosthetic disc includes an inferior articular half that
can be configured to engage the inferior vertebra and a superior
articular half that can be configured to engage the superior vertebra.
The inferior articular half can be configured to cooperate with the
superior articular half to allow relative angular motion between the
inferior vertebra and the superior vertebra when installed. Further, the
intervertebral prosthetic device can be sized and shaped to pass through
a psoas muscle without injuring a spinal cord or a sympathetic chain.