Spine anatomy

Your cervical spine consists of the first seven vertebrae in your spine. It provides support for the weight of your head, surrounds and protects your spinal cord, and allows for a wide range of head motions. Many conditions affect this area of your spine, including neck pain, arthritis, degenerative bone and disk disease, and stenosis. Many treatment options are available. Overview The Cervical Spine What is the cervical spine? Your cervical spine — the neck area of your Your seven cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7) are connected at the back of the bone by a type of joint (called facet joints), which allow for the forward, backward and twisting motions of your neck. Your cervical spine is also surrounded by muscles, nerves, tendons and ligaments. “Shock-absorbing” disks, called intervertebral disks, are positioned between each vertebra. Your What does the cervical spine do? Your cervical spine has several functions, including: • Protecting your spinal cord. The nerves of your spinal cord pass through a large hole (called the vertebral foramen) that passes through the center of all of your vertebrae — from the base of your skull through the cervical vertebrae, the thoracic (middle back) vertebrae and ending between the first and second lumbar (lower back) vertebrae. Taken together, all the stacked vertebrae of your spine form a protective central canal that protects your spinal cord. • Supporting your head and allowing movement. Your cervical spine supports the weight of your he...

The spinal cord is an extension of the Anatomically, the spinal cord runs from the top of the highest neck bone (the C1 vertebra) to approximately the level of the L1 vertebra, which is the highest bone of the lower back and is found just below the rib cage. The spinal cord is about 18 inches (45 centimeters) in length and is relatively cylindrical in shape. The cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) segments house the spinal cord's two areas of enlargement. A fibrous band called the filum terminale begins at the tip of the conus medullaris and extends to the pelvis. At the bottom of the spinal cord (conus medullaris) is the The spinal cord lies inside the spinal column, which is made up of 33 bones called The spine itself is divided into four sections, not including the tailbone: • Cervical vertebrae (C1-C7): located in the neck • Thoracic vertebrae (T1-T12): located in the upper back and attached to the ribcage • Lumbar vertebrae (L1-L5): located in the lower back • Sacral vertebrae (S1-S5): located in the pelvis Between the vertebral bodies (except cervical vertebrae 1 and 2) are There are 31 pairs of There are 12 thoracic nerve pairs. The first nerve root exits between the T1 and T2 vertebrae. There are five lumbar nerve pairs. The first of these nerve roots exits between L1 and L2. There are five sacral nerve pairs. The first nerve root exits between S1 and S2. One pair of coccygeal (Co1) nerves meets in the area of the tailbone. By way of the Any interruption of spi...

This human anatomy module is composed of diagrams, illustrations and 3D views of the back, cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal areas as well as the various vertebrae. It contains the osteology, arthrology and myology of the spine and back. It is particularly interesting for physiotherapists, osteopaths, rheumatologists, neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons and general practitioners, especially for the study and understanding of diseases of the back and spine (lumbago, sciatica, herniated disc...). Left view of the lumbar vertebral column (Illustration : A. Micheau, MD - E-anatomy - Imaios) Anatomical diagrams of the spine and back These diagrams and original illustrations were produced from 3D medical imaging reconstructions of the spine and back by Micheua, Antoine - MD. All the images are in vector format, allowing an optimal web display with zoom and shifting of the anatomical images. 3d-view of a cervical vertebra adapted from a CT scan Chapters of this atlas of spinal anatomy • A general view of the spine with the various levels (cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal regions, sacrum and coccyx) as well as the physiological curvature of the spine (cervical and lumbar lordosis, thoracic and sacral kyphosis). Vertebral column: Anterior view, Posterior view, Lateral view , 3D rendering • The bony structures of the cervical vertebrae (C1 to C7) as well as lateral views of anatomical and anterolateral cervical spine. • The thoracic vertebrae (T1 to T12) in top, bottom and lat...

Key parts of your spine include vertebrae (bones), disks, nerves and the spinal cord. The spine supports your body and helps you walk, twist and move. The disks that cushion vertebrae may compress with age or injury, leading to a herniated disk. Exercises can strengthen the core muscles that support the spine and prevent back injuries and back pain. The spine has three normal curves: cervical, thoracic and lumbar. There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae in the torso and five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. What is the spine? Your spine, or backbone, is your body's central support structure. It connects different parts of your What are the parts of the spine? A healthy spine has three natural curves that make an S-shape. These curves absorb shocks to your body and protect your spine from injury. Many different parts make up your spine: • Vertebrae: The spine has 33 stacked vertebrae (small bones) that form the spinal canal. The spinal canal is a tunnel that houses the spinal cord and nerves, protecting them from injury. Most vertebrae move to allow for a range of motion. The lowest vertebrae (sacrum and coccyx) are fused together and don’t move. • Facet joints: These spinal joints have cartilage (a slippery connective tissue) that allows vertebrae to slide against each other. Facet joints let you twist and turn, and they provide flexibility and stability. These joints can develop • Intervertebral disks: These flat, round cushions sit betwee...

Synonyms: Spine The vertebral column (spine or backbone) is a curved structure composed of bony vertebrae that are interconnected by cartilaginous Although the spine can be a pain in the Key facts about the vertebral column Regions Cervical, Thoracic, Lumbar, Sacral, Coccygeal Mnemonic: Can This Little Servant Cook? Typical vertebra Vertebral body, vertebral arch (pedicles, lamina), vertebral processes (spinous, transverse, articular) Joints Intervertebral discs, uncovertebral, zygapophyseal (facet), craniovertebral (atlanto-occipital, atlanto-axial), costovertebral, sacroiliac Ligaments Longitudinal (anterior, posterior), ligamenta flava, interspinous, supraspinous, nuchal, alar, cruciate ligament of atlas, costotransverse, ligaments of head of rib (intra-articular, radiate) Curvatures Cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sacral kyphosis Movements Flexion, extension, lateral flexion, lateral extension, rotation Vasculature Segmental arteries and vertebral venous plexus (internal, external) Nerves Meningeal branches of spinal nerves In this article we’ll explore the [Vertebral column and spinal nerves] How many vertebrae do we have? The vertebral column consists of 33 vertebrae in total, divided as follows: • • • • • Coccyx (3-4 fused) Mnemonic: A super simple way to remember the five regions of the vertebral column is to use the mnemonic ' Can This Little Servant Cook?' Typical vertebra No two vertebrae are identical. They vary in size and characteris...

Spinal Anatomy The spine is a very complex mechanical structure that is highly flexible yet very strong and stable. In the normal spine, regardless of your position or activity, including sleeping, there is always some type of physical demand being placed on it. The primary functions of the spine include: • Protect the spinal cord, nerve roots, and internal organs • Provide flexibility of motion • Provide structural support and balance for upright posture. The spine bears the load of the head, shoulders and arms, and upper body. The upper body weight is then distributed to the hips and legs. The spine attempts to keep the body's weight balanced evenly over the pelvis. This reduces the amount of work required by the spinal muscles and can eliminate muscle fatigue and back pain. Loss of spinal balance can result in strain to the spinal muscles and deformity of the spine as it attempts to maintain an upright posture. Regions of the Spine There are 33 vertebrae (bones) in the spine. Anatomically, the spine is divided into four regions: • The top 7 vertebrae that form the neck are called the cervical spine and are labeled C1-C7. • The upper back, or thoracic spine, has 12 vertebrae, labeled T1-T12. • The lower back, or lumbar spine has 5 vertebrae, labeled L1-L5. • The sacrum and coccyx (tailbone) are made up of 9 vertebrae that are fused together to form a solid bone. The sacrum is labeled S1. Curves of the Spine When viewed from the front or back, the normal spine is in a str...