Anatomy of the Spine

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The spinal column is made up of twenty-four individual bones called vertebrae. Each vertebra in the spinal column consists of the vertebral body in the front, the facet joints in the back and the pedicles, which join the vertebral bodies to the facet joints. Vertebrae provide support for the spine and are connected by intervertebral discs. Intervertebral discs are composed of strong tissue masses that are filled with gel, and they allow the torso to bend, twist and absorb shock.

The spine itself is divided into three portions: the cervical spine (neck area), the thoracic spine (upper back) and the lumbar spine (lower back).

Cervical Spine

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The vertebrae in the cervical spine begin at the base of the skull. There are seven vertebrae in this area with eight pairs of cervical nerves, which control movement in the neck, arms and upper body. The cervical vertebrae are strong so as to support the weight of the head.

Thoracic Spine

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Directly below the cervical region the thoracic portion of the spine starts. There are twelve vertebrae and twelve pairs of ribs, as well as nerve roots that are responsible for movement in the midsection of the body. The ribs provide the structure for the chest wall and protect many internal organs.

Lumbar Spine

The third part of the spine is the lumbar vertebrae. There are normally five lumbar bones, however some people have one less or one more. The lumbar vertebrae are the largest and strongest of the three regions of the spine because these support the bulk of the body's weight. The five pairs of lumbar nerves manipulate the movement and sensory functions of the lower extremities.

• Sacrum and Coccyx
• Intervertebral Discs
• Spinal Ligaments
• Spinal Muscles
• Skeletal Bones