Your spine, or backbone, provides support for your entire body and nervous system. It helps hold your body upright, allows it to bend and twist easily, and helps you sit, stand, and walk. The spine also protects the spinal cord and major nerves that make up the nervous system.
When most people talk about the spine, they refer to the 24 circular vertebrae that march down the middle of the back.
The spine can be divided into 5 regions:
– 7 vertebrae of the neck/ cervical (C1-C7)
– 12 vertebrae of the mid-back/ thoracic (T1-T12)
– 5 vertebrae of the lower back/lumbar (L1-L5)
– Sacrum
– Coccyx
If you look at the spine from the side, you will see an S-shaped structure. The neck gently curves inward, while the mid-back curves gently outward, followed by the low back, which curves inward again. This structure gives the spinal column great strength and shock-absorbing qualities.
The spine also relies on several supporting structures to maintain its S shape, provide skeletal support, and route the nerves where they need to go.
These structures are spinal discs, facet joints, ligaments, and muscles.
Spinal Discs. Also known as intervertebral discs, these are flat pads of tissue that sit between each of the vertebrae and act as shock absorbers.
Facet Joints. These joints help stabilize the spine when bending forward, backward, and twisting. Like other joints in the body, each facet joint is encased in a connective tissue capsule that produces a nourishing fluid that lubricates the joint. Cartilage (slippery tissue) coats the joint surfaces ensuring smooth movement.
Spinal ligaments. These are strong, tough bands of tissue that act like stretchy tension cords that connect the vertebrae, discs, and facet joints to help stabilize and support the spinal column at rest and during movement.
Muscles and tendons. These further stabilize and strengthen the vertebral column while supporting and limiting extreme bending, flexing, and twisting movements.
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