The spine is an incredibly complex and integral component of the skeletal system. It is the framework for all of the ligaments, tendons, nerves, muscles, and other various tissues that compose a human being’s back. Furthermore, the spine serves to protect your delicate spinal cord, which contains an incredible amount of nerves tissues bundled together in a tubular shape, running from the medulla oblongata, a lower part of your brain, to your lumbar vertebrae, a lower section of your spine. The spinal cord is an essential part of your body’s central nervous system and if the spinal cord is injured, symptoms from back pain to paraplegia can be experienced. Thus, the health of the spine is very important.
Basics of Spine Anatomy
The spine consists of thirty-three individual vertebrae and is divided into five distinct sections: cervical vertebrae, thoracic or dorsal vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, and coccygeal vertebrae. The majority of these vertebrae are separated by intervertebral discs of fibro-cartilage except for the sacral and coccygeal regions, which instead consist of five vertebrae and four vertebrae all fused together, respectively. The coccygeal region of the spine is what is referred to as the tailbone in lay terms.
Vertebrae Exposé
Each vertebra has the same basic structures, but there are notable differences that are observed between the different sections as well as with the sections themselves. The two basic components of every vertebra are the body or centrum and the neural arch. The body or centrum ostensibly is the part that composes the solid column of the spine and provides support to the torso of the human body. The neural arch is composed of two pairs of distinct pieces of bone termed the pedicles and laminae. The pedicles and the laminae are the structures that create the vertebral foramen, which is essentially a hole through which the spinal cord is threaded. The neural arch also serves to support three different types of processes, which are pieces of bone that function as attachment points for certain connective tissues.
Vertebral Differences
As mentioned above there exists several differences among vertebrae of different sections and vertebrae within their respective sections. The differences in the vertebrae exist largely in the shape, size, and/or presence of various processes; the orientation and size of the pedicles and laminae; and the size and shape of the centrum. For example, the cervical vertebrae have a smaller yet broader centrum than other vertebrae; it has a short, bifurcated spinous process; its articular processes are oval-shaped, oblique, and flat; and its transverse processes are bifurcated at its extremity. The transverse processes are also directed forwards and outwards, grooved along their upper surface, and have arterial foramen. The pedicles shoot out laterally a little farther and the laminae are long, narrow, and thin.
This is opposed to lumbar vertebrae, which have comparatively large centrum. The lumbar vertebrae also lack arterial foramen in their transverse processes unlike cervical vertebrae; the pedicles are directed backwards as opposed to forward; and the laminae are much shorter and broader than the cervical laminae.
These differences are a few of a myriad of morphological, physical, and functional differences among the vertebral region. There also exist differences within the regions themselves. These differences are extremely important and are responsible for our spine’s range of motion and flexibility. These differences also exist to accommodate specific tissues, arteries, veins, and nerves that need to be in certain locations.
The anatomy of the spine is very complex, but it is vital to understand its workings so as to protect it, strengthen it, and research it further in order to improve surgical procedures and other medical practices.
Work Cited
- Gray, Henry, et al. The Complete Gray's Anatomy. Finland: Merchant Book Company, 2003. Print.
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