Dorothy FarrarSpine
The spine is the central bony axis of the human body and consists of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine as well as the sacrum and coccyx. It is important for upright posture, a variety of movements, as an attachment for bones, tendons and muscles, and for protection of the spinal cord. The most common diseases include complaints from poor posture, intervertebral disc problems and degenerative processes.
Definition
The spine (Latin “Columna vertebralis” = “column of vertebrae”) is the most important element in the body’s support and movement system. It extends from the neck area down to the tailbone. Since it has to carry more and more body weight downwards – due to the upright gait of humans – it is particularly broad in the lumbar vertebrae area. The natural curves of the spine also help absorb weight and incoming shocks.
Anatomy
The spine consists of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae and five lumbar vertebrae as well as the sacrum and coccyx. With the exception of the connection between the first and second cervical vertebrae, one intervertebral disc can be found between every two vertebrae down to where the last lumbar vertebra meets the sacrum. It consists of a fibrocartilaginous ring as a shell and a movable, soft gelatinous core inside.
It prevents wear caused by unprotected contact between the bony structures, so it has a buffering function. In addition, it plays a large part in the mobility of the spine, which can be bent, stretched, rotated and tilted to the side. The individual vertebrae have spinous and transverse processes that act as attachment points for muscles . The spinous processes are the prominent points that we can see and feel on the back.
In addition, the vertebrae have a vertebral hole: when placed one on top of the other, the individual holes form the vertebral canal. Here lies the spinal cord, whose nerves supply the different parts of the body. The individual vertebrae are also connected to one another in a movable manner via the small vertebral joints.
The spinal column has extensive ligaments and is also tightly tense due to the trunk musculature system. On the one hand, this serves their mobility, on the other hand, however, as protection against injuries and the consequences of instability.
Function
The clearly visible function of the spine is to give the body its upright posture. Located in the middle of the body, it is the central axis on which the various elements of the support and movement system attach. She supports the pelvis and shoulder girdle with the respective extremities of the legs and arms .
Impact loads, for example when jumping and landing, are buffered with the help of the intervertebral discs , but also with the so-called double S-shape: the cervical and lumbar spine are curved forwards towards the abdomen (lordosis), thoracic spine and sacrum backwards (kyphosis) . Due to its mobility, which corresponds to the sum of the mobility of the individual vertebrae in relation to each other, the spine is involved in a large number of movements of bending, stretching, turning and tilting.
One of the most important tasks of the spine is to protect the spinal cord, which runs in the spinal canal. This is not only achieved through the bony sheath, but also indirectly through the intervertebral discs and well-functioning muscles or correct posture: All these factors contribute to the vertebrae being as straight as possible on top of each other and not pinching the spinal nerve at its exit point.
Diseases
- Protusius
A large number of diseases and pain conditions in the area of the spine or back are caused by problems with the intervertebral discs. In the event of protrusion (protusion), the intervertebral disc already leaves its natural limits due to unfavorable posture and stress, in the event of a prolapse (prolapse), the entire core protrudes – in unfavorable cases into the area of the nerve root.
This can sometimes lead to severe pain, sensory disturbances (“tingling”), numbness or even paralysis. A serious complication, which usually requires surgery, is loss of bladder and bowel control .
Inflammatory and degenerative diseases of the spine increase with age. As with other articulated structures, rheumatism and arthrosis, for example, can develop. What is known as osteochondrosis is typical of the spine – wear and tear on the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs between them.
Some spinal diseases are acquired through poor posture or are already present in childhood. A lateral curvature of the spine is called scoliosis. Scheuermann’s disease often manifests itself with a hunchback as a characteristic picture: In this growth disorder of the spine, which usually affects young people, a pronounced kyphosis develops in the upper back, which is triggered by degeneration of the vertebral bodies in the area of their front edges and by a bad, forward-bent sitting position is exacerbated.
Accidents or sports injuries in particular can also lead to fractures in the spinal column, which – if the sensitive nerves are irreversibly damaged – can also lead to paraplegia.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.