Information about the spine
A Brief Anatomy Lesson on the Spine:
The adult spine consists of vertebrae or small bones which form articulating or moveable) segments with each other. There are 7 cervical (neck region), 12 thoracic (chest region), 5 lumbar (lower back region). There are also 5 sacral (hip region), and 4 coccygeal (tailbone region) vertebrae, which fuse as we develop. The vertebrae are held in place by muscles and strong connective tissue called ligaments. Most vertebrae have fibrous intervertebral disks between them to absorb shock and enable the spine to bend.
The anatomy of the spinal column is extremely well designed to serve many functions. All of the elements of the spinal column and vertebrae serve the purpose of protecting the spinal cord, which provides communication to the brain, mobility and sensation in the body through the complex interaction of bones, ligaments and muscle structures of the back and the nerves that surround it. The back is also the powerhouse for the entire body, as it supports the movements of our head, arms, and legs possible. Each spinal region has a natural curvature which further develops as we learn to crawl and walk. They provide shock absorption to our bodies and aid in balance.
Nerves originate from your brain and spinal cord, which is known as the central nervous system. They send messages to every part of your body through the peripheral nervous system. The spine houses the central nervous system, which supplies the body’s organs with messages from the brain and the environment.
Upper Neck: Upper Cervical Spine (C1 - C2)
Controls the head, face, upper neck, inner & middle ear, sympathetic nerve system, sinuses, eyes, auditory nerves and more.
Mid Back: Thoracic Spine (T1 - T12)
Controls the arms, hands, heart, coronary arteries, esophagus, trachea, lungs, bronchial tubes, gallbladder, liver, stomach, pancreas, spleen, kidneys, ureters, adrenal glands, small intestines, and more.
Lower Back: Lumbar Spine (L1 - L5)
Controls the large intestines, appendix, abdomen, bladder, reproductive organs, lower back, lower extremities, ankles, feet, and more.
Basebone or Tailbone: Sacrum and Coccyx
Controls the hip bones, tail bone, buttocks, rectum, and more.
Damage to the spine often occurs in the cervical and lumbar regions. Fractured cervical vertebrae may injure the spinal cord, resulting in a loss of sensation, paralysis, or even death. Whiplash is an injury to the muscles and ligaments attached to cervical vertebrae. It occurs when a sudden force, such as a rear-end car accident, throws the head backward. As people age, the intervertebral disk will lose water and some of its shock absorption function. This leads to the decrease in height seen in older adults. It can also cause pinching of spinal nerves, causing low back pain or sciatica (pain shooting down the leg).