Ligaments serve as cable-like structures that hold bones together. Facet joints, like any other joint have a cartilage surface and are susceptible to wear and tear that may lead to degenerative changes such as arthritis.Īdditionally, vertebrae attach to ligaments and muscles that connect and anchor them from above and below. The back part of the vertebrae also consists of two structures called facet joints. When the vertebrae are not optimally aligned, the spinal cord is going to not be optimally aligned and problems and occur. This is why the spine and chiropractic care is so important. The back part of the vertebrae is a ring-like structure that forms a hollow space housing where the spinal cord passes through. The front part of the vertebrae is considered the body and is primarily a support, weight-bearing, flexible structure. This entire complex, made up of very strong bones, is vitally important as the foundation that supports the weight of the upper body and spreads that weight across into the legs.Įach bony segment that makes up your spine is called a vertebrae.Īs we discussed previously, each vertebrae is stacked one on top of the other which makes up the entire spinal column. The sacrum forms the solid base for the spine, where it intersects with the pelvic bones to form the pelvis, also referred to as the pelvic girdle. I tend to think of the sacrum and coccyx independently since their individual vertebrae are fused and have no disc-like shock-absorbing structures interspaced between them. The four sections are the sacrum and coccyx (tail bone), the lumbar spine (lower back), the thoracic spine (mid and upper back), and the cervical spine (neck). They are divided into sections based on the spinal curves they form. Human spine series#I like to think of the spine as a chain or series of building blocks (units if you prefer) stacked in a column.Ī total of 33 vertebrae form the spine. The purpose of the spine is to support the body’s weight, protect the spinal cord, and support two-legged human function in standing, sitting, walking, and all other activities of daily life. The spine, or vertebral column, is made up of individual bone segments called vertebrae superimposed, one on top of the other, and spaced apart by small, shock-absorbing, spongelike structures called intervertebral discs.
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