Your spine is a complex system that helps facilitate movement and disperse pressure throughout your body. It is comprised of 33 individual vertebrae that interlock to form the spinal column. The function of the spine is to house and protect the spinal cord and nerves as they pass from the brain to the body, provide stability to the core of the body, and supply anchor spots for muscle and ligaments to attach.
Below, we take a closer look at the composition of the spine, discuss some of the most common ways areas of the spinal column can become injured, and we talk about treatment options.
The Basics Of Your Spine
The 33 spinal vertebrae that make up your spinal column are categorized based on their location inside the body. Traditionally, your spine is categorized into five different sections – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx. We’ll take a look at each below.
- Cervical Region – The cervical region is housed in the neck area and makes up the top portion of your spine. The first seven vertebrae make up the cervical spine, and they are numbered C1-C7 beginning at the top. These vertebrae allow for neck motion and provide attachment points for the muscles that control head, neck, and shoulder motion.
- Thoracic Region – Next comes the largest spinal region, the thoracic region. Housed in the mid spine, the thoracic region is made up of 12 vertebrae, numbered T1-T12. Their main purpose is to support the rib cage that protects your heart and lungs. They have a much more limited range of motion compared to the cervical region.
- Lumbar Region – Next up is the lumbar region, located in the lower back. These five vertebrae are tasked with helping to support the weight of your body and allow for low back motion. Numbered L1-L5, these vertebrae are larger in size than other vertebrae, which helps them better perform their function bearing weight and supporting larger muscle attachments.
- Sacrum Region – Nestled underneath the lumbar region are five smaller vertebrae that make up the sacrum. The main function of the sacrum is to connect the spine to the hip bones. These five sacral vertebrae are fused together for added stability and support.
- Coccyx Region – Finally four fused bones of the coccyx are located underneath the sacral region. They provide an attachment point for ligaments and muscles of the pelvic floor.
Discs, Facet Joints & More
Your vertebrae aren’t the only parts that make up the spinal column. Between the vertebrae are soft cartilage spinal discs that act as flexible cushions and to aid in movement and stress distribution. These discs can slowly wear down as a result of the natural aging process. They also become damaged as a result of acute trauma. If these discs degenerate or shift out of position, they can compress key spinal nerves, leading to a range of symptoms. Other key parts of your spine include:
- Facet Joints – Each vertebrae has four facet joints, and they help the spinal column move. Each vertebrae has two facet joints that connect to the vertebrae above and two that connect to the vertebrae below it.
- Spinal Ligaments – Spinal ligaments provide a number of functions inside the spine, including helping to hold the vertebrae together, stabilizing the spinal column and protecting the spinal discs.
- Spinal Cord – Your spinal cord runs from your brainstem to the top of the lumbar portion of your spine, and it acts as the information relay between the brain and your body.
- Spinal Nerves – 31 spinal nerves branch off from the spinal cord and help to carry motor impulses throughout the body. There are eight in the cervical region, 12 thoracic spinal nerves, five in each of the lumbar and sacrum regions and one coccygeal nerve.
- Spinal Fluid – Spinal fluid surrounds the brain and the spinal cord as another layer of protection, and it helps to remove waste products from brain cells.
To learn more about spinal anatomy, or to talk to a specialist about any back pain you’re experiencing, reach out to Dr. Jackman today.