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Anatomy of the Spine
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The backbone or spine is composed of 33 bony segments called vertebrae that start at the neck and end at the tailbone.
7 cervical (neck)
12 thoraic [middle back]
5 lumbar [lower back]
5 sacral [ lowest area of the back ]
4 coccygeal [ tailbone ]
Along with muscles, tendons and ligaments, the vertebrae help the body remain upright.
The vertebrae also surround and protect the spinal cord, an extension of the brain that emanates from an opening at the base of the skull and extends through a long, hollow channel. Between each vertebra is a gel-like cushion called an intervertebral disc. These discs keep the vertebrae from rubbing against one another and provide needed spacing for the 31 pairs of nerves that emerge from the spinal cord through openings in the vertebrae.
These peripheral nerves are two-way signaling stations, conveying sensory information from the body to the brain and sending motor signals from the brain to the body.
When there is disruption in this signaling apparatus, back pain—or numbness or tingling in the extremities—may result.
Many times the symptoms are a result of stress or overuse and resolve on their own. But when they don’t, there may be underlying damage to the vertebrae, their supporting discs or even to the spinal canal.
If symptoms persist for more than a few days or if they worsen, it’s definitely time to seek an evaluation by a spine specialist.
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