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The spine is a spinal column shaped as the letter S, that provides the main support for the body. Spine allows you to stand upright, bend, and twist, while protecting the spinal cord from injury. It is important to understand the alignment and the movement of the spine so that you can protect it and always experience a healthy, painless and limitless living.

 

 

The spine is made of 33 individual bones stacked one on top of the other that are called “vertebrae”. In order for the vertebrae to be connected but also protected they have bands attached to them, which stand in between.

These bands are called intervertebral discs and their function is to separate, cushion and prevent the robbing of vertebras.

 

 

 

 

 

 

These 33 bones are numbered from the top to the bottom and divided into sections. The vertebrae in each region have unique features that help them perform their functions.

The spine is divided into :

Cervical spine – first 7 vertebrae ( C1-C7 )

main function: to support the head

movement of the head is possible due to the anatomy of atlas (1^st vertebrae) and 2^nd vertebrae, a peg-shaped axis.

Thoracic spine – 12 vertebrae (T1-T12)

Main function: provide support to the rib cage and protection to the heart and lungs.

movement is limited

Lumbar spine – 5 vertebrae (L1-L5)

main function: to bear the body weight

movement of flexion, extension and rotation

Sacral spine – 3 to 5 vertebrae fused together

main function:to connect the spine to the hips

they form the pelvic girdle together with the iliac bones

Coccyx – 4 last fused vertebrae

Main function : to provide attachment for ligaments and muscles of the

pelvic floor

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The S shape of the spine is made out of its curves that were shaped during the spine’s development. The primary curves are the kyphotic ones and the secondary curves are the lordotic ones.
the kyphotic curves are outward curves of the spine – thoracic, sacral

The lordotic curves are inward curves of the spine – cervical, lumbar

 

 

 

 

There are 5 Types of movement that our spine can perform

 

 

1. flexion – forward bending
2. extension – backward bending
3. lateral flexion – side bending
4. axial rotation – twisting
5. axial extension – lengthening of the spine

 

 

sources

(1) Mayfield Clinic

(2) Ανατομική του ανθρώπου – δομή και λειτουργία, πρώτος τόμος / Παναγιώτης Βαλτοπουλος – Ιατρικές εκδόσεις Π.Χ Δασκαλίδης