The spine is one of the most important part of the skeletal system. It is a series of interlocking bones that runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It supports the head and upper and lower portions of the body and provides support and stability while maintaining flexibility. The spine also access to primary protection for the spinal cord as communication between the brain and the rest of the body.
Sections
The spine is divided into five primary sections. The cervical section consists of seven vertebrae. These vertebrae begin at the base of the skull and support the head and neck. From the shoulders to the mid-waist is the thoracic section, made up of 12 vertebrae. The five vertebrate of the lumbar section are just below this in the lower back. The sacral section consists of five fused vertebrae that attach to the pelvis. The last section is the smallest, named the coccyx, also known as the tailbone.
Vertebrae
The spine is made up of 30 interlocking bones, called vetrebrae, that stack one on top of the other to form the spinal column. Each vertebra is hollow, providing a space, called the vertebral foramen, where nerves pass through the entire column, providing nervous system support to the body. Vertebrae may be small and provide a higher level of flexibility, such as in the neck. They may tightly connected, such as in the lumbar and sacral regions, where stability and strength are more important.
Supporting Structures
These bones also connected by muscles and ligaments that hold the column vertical and support the body. Between each vertebrae are pads of cartilage, called intervertebral discs, that act as a cushions to support the vertebrae one on top of the other. This construction allows for a certain amount of rotation and flexibility, enabling a person to bend forward and back or left and right.
Vertebral Foramen
The vertebral foramen is a tube of tissue that runs down through the entire length of the spine from the brain all the way to the sacrum. Tiny holes within and along the entire length of the spine allow nerve branches to pass through the spine and enter the body. This allows the brain to communicate with muscles, organs and other parts of the body effectively.
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