Vertebral Column
The spinal column or spine is the central axis of the physique accountable for supporting our bipedal place.
It additionally constitutes an essential axis of communication between the central and peripheral nervous systems, by means of the spinal cord, contained within the spinal canal of the spinal column.
The backbone can be made up of soft tissues reminiscent of muscle tissues, ligaments, capsules, tendons and discs, these structures being liable for the flexibleness of the backbone.
Anatomy of the spine
Vertebrae
The vertebrae are stacked on prime of one another, thus forming the spinal column.
The smallest are the cervical vertebrae, adopted by the thoracic vertebrae, that are medium in measurement, whereas the lumbar vertebrae, positioned within the under a part of the backbone, are the biggest.
The vertebral column extends from the bottom of the skull to the caudal end of the trunk. The sacral vertebrae are fused and form the sacrum, simply because the coccygeal vertebrae form the coccyx.
The pelvis is the bottom of the backbone, the place the decrease limbs articulate. Superiorly, the spine articulates with the occipital bone of the skull and, inferiorly, with the ilium.
The spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae interspersed by intervertebral discs , with the next division:
- Cervical Vertebrae : 7 vertebrae;
- Dorsal or thoracic vertebrae : 12 vertebrae;
- Lumbar Vertebrae : 5 vertebrae;
- Sacral Vertebrae : 5 fused vertebrae;
- Coccygeal Vertebra : 4 fused vertebrae.
Apart from the first and 2nd cervical vertebrae, atlas (C1) and axis (C2), respectively, all vertebrae have 7 primary parts:
- Body;
- Spinous Process;
- Transverse Process;
- Joint Processes;
- Blades;
- Pedicles;
- Vertebral foramen.
Learn Additionally:
- Bones of the human body
- Human skeleton
- Skeletal system
Curvatures of the Spine
Considered laterally, the spinal column has 4 curvatures thought-about physiological, that’s, natural:
- Cervical lordosis (posterior concavity);
- Thoracic kyphosis (anterior concavity);
- Lumbar lordosis (posterior concavity);
- Sacrococcygeal kyphosis (anterior concavity).
Images
Diseases
Some diseases are related to the spine. They’re:
- Kyphosis : Irregular deviation of the backbone, inflicting the upper back to look extra rounded than normal.
- Lordosis : Extreme curvature of the backbone.
- Herniated disc : A scenario by which a part of the intervertebral disc strikes out of its normal place and compresses the nerve portion of the spinal column.
- Scoliosis : Deformity within the curvature of the spine, which takes on an “s” or “c” form.
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Vertebral Column Images
