Many of us experience low back pain at some point in our lives and it can be difficult to determine what is generating the pain due to the complex anatomy of the spine. Often our pain comes from a combination of sources, so let’s take a quick look at the spines’ basic anatomy.

The bones that create our spinal column and hold the body upright are called vertebrae. Most people are born with 33 vertebrae, but by the time we reach adulthood, the average adult will have only 24 because some of the vertebrae at the bottom of the spine fuse together, which is a normal growth and development process.

The vertebral column protects the spinal cord (nerves) which is part of the central nervous system that runs from our brain, through the spinal column, to the rest of our body. The many small joints also allow for the bending and twisting movements of our back.

The spinal column can be broken into sections.

  • The cervical spine is the 7 vertebrae in our neck.
  • The thoracic spine is the 12 vertebrae of our upper and mid back.
  • The lumbar spine is 5 vertebrae in our lower back.

In addition to these 24 vertebrae, we also have the 9 fused vertebrae that make up the sacrum and coccyx (what we think of as our tailbone region).

Apart from the 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and coccyx, between each of the 24 vertebrae we have a gelatinous pad called an intervertebral disc. The discs help to hold the vertebrae together. They also allow movement throughout the spine. Our discs act as shock absorbers as our back bends, arches, and twists. It is common to experience injury to discs because they are an area of our spine that allows for movement, making it more susceptible to damage and wear and tear.

In addition to the vertebrae and discs, there are many spinal ligaments (strong fibrous bands) and muscles to help stabilize and support the spine during both rest and movement. So, you can see the anatomy of the spine is complex and comprised of many distinct parts, but together they create a strong, resilient, back that can adapt and recover when injured.

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