A Quick Look at How the Spine Works
Author: tiger Published Under: Health
The spine is actually an amazing structure that is made up of 24 different bones. These bones, along with discs and facets help provide the body with support, while also protecting our nerves. It is important to have an understanding of how the spine works, so you can understand back pain.
Back Pain can be a very serious and debilitating condition, which can have a major impact on almost all aspects of a person's life. To get a better understanding of what causes back pain, it is important to first take a look at how the spine works.
What is the Spine?
In the body, the spine plays a number of roles. One of its main roles is supporting the body. It allows us to walk upright, while also allowing us to bend over. The spine is also responsible for protecting our nerves, which are used to control feeling and movement throughout the body.
The Spine is not actually a single bone, but is instead made up of 24 smaller bones, which fit one on top of the other. These bones are called vertebrae.
There are 7 vertebrae in the neck, 12 in the upper-back, and 5 in the lower back. At the base of the spine, the sacrum, which is part of the pelvis, holds the spine in place.
Acting as a sort of suspension system, discs are located in between the vertebrae. Discs have a tough outer exterior called the annulus fibrosis, which is thicker in some areas and thinner in others. The center of the disc is a gel like consistency, which helps adsorb shocks.
Small joints called facets are located on the back of the spine, which are formed by the shape of the vertebrae. The facets help to protect the spine, while also allowing for motion. In the front of the body, the ribs are connected to the spine by small joints, which allow the ribs to move as we breathe.
The Importance of Our Back Muscles
There are a few different muscles used to control the spine, with the large muscles that run the length of the back doing the majority of the work. These muscles, which are called extensor muscles are mainly used to help the body bend backwards, while smaller muscles under the extensors, called multifidi, help the body rotate. The multifidi are also very important for providing stability to the spine.
Another muscles, the psoas, is located by the hips and in front of the spine. The psoas helps with hip movements and allows the body to bend forward. Abdominal muscles also help support the spine, adding stability and preventing extra motion.
The nerves that are protected by the spine run to other parts of the body, passing through holes called foraminaes. If these holes close, it can cause a number of nerve related problems.