Know Your Spine - Parts of the Spine and the Spinal Cord

Creator: Dr. Anuj Gupta
Published: 2020-02-22T07:29:08-04:00

Written by

and medically reviewed by Dr. Sneha Kannan

Published on Feb 22, 2020 and last reviewed on Aug 02, 2023 - 4 min read

Abstract

The spine is a complex structure of the human body which is difficult to understand. Read the article below to learn more

Contents

What Are the Different Parts of the Spine?

How Is the Spine Kept Healthy?

Know Your Spine - Parts of the Spine and the Spinal Cord

Introduction:

The body's main supporting component is the spine, also known as the backbone. It links several musculoskeletal system components. The spine supports people while they sit, stand, walk, bend, and twist. Back injuries, disorders affecting the spinal cord, and other issues can harm the spine and result in back discomfort.

In a normal person, the spine starts from the base of the head to the buttocks. It runs in the midline with muscles and rib cage supporting on the sides. The spine is divided into four parts for easier understanding. All these parts show something in common. The names of these parts from head to lower down are:

Cervical Spine.
Thoracic Spine.
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Lumbar Spine.
Sacrum Spine.

So normally, when a patient tells the doctor that they have cervical, then it must be understood that it is not a problem, but the name of a normal part of the spine.

What Are the Different Parts of the Spine?

Cervical Spine - This is the uppermost part of the spine. It has 7 vertebrae. In every spine, there are a certain number of vertebrae, which are bones and they are arranged like a stack. So, in the cervical spine, we have 7 vertebrae. This part of the spine has lordosis, that is, bent backward. The 1st vertebra is connected to the skull and is responsible for nodding or “yes” movement. The 2nd vertebra is connected to the first vertebra and is responsible for “no” or side-to-side movement. The unique feature of these two vertebrae is that they are very mobile and there is no disc between them. Almost 50 percent of our head movements are because of them. Rest 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th vertebrae make the rest of the 50 percent of movements. They all have a disc between them. Now the last, that is, the 7th vertebra is a transitional vertebra. That means, it is a cervical vertebra but behaves like thoracic vertebrae.

Thoracic Spine - The thoracic spine has 12 vertebrae. It is present at the opposite of the chest wall. This part of the spine has kyphosis, that is, bent forward. This is the least mobile and most stable part of the spine due to the presence of ribs (12 in number). So, each vertebra is attached to one rib on the right and left side, and in front, the ribs are attached to the sternum bone. So, it forms a strong cage, hence the mobility is very less. Only mobility happening at the thoracic spine is rotation because of which we can rotate our trunk backward while moving our lower limbs. There are discs between each vertebra. Since this part of the spine is not much mobile, incidences of disc prolapse or disc herniation are not very common in this part.

Lumbar Spine - This part of the spine is present in the lower back. It has a lot of similarities with the cervical spine. Like the cervical spine, this part of the spine has lordosis, that is, bent backward. This is again a very mobile part of the spine. Collective movements of this lumbar spine help us to bend forward and backward. The lumbar spine has 5 vertebrae. These 5 vertebrae have discs between them. Since this is again the mobile segment of the spine, the incidence of disc prolapse is very common. The incidence is more common than the cervical spine because this is the most weight-bearing part of the spine. The cervical spine has to bear the weight of only the head, but the lumbar spine has to bear the weight of the entire upper trunk. The maximum movement is present between L4-5 and L5-S1, hence 90 % of the incidences of disc prolapse are common here.

Sacrum and Coccyx - The sacrum and coccyx are the last part of the spine. They are fused to form a single part with no disc space in between. The sacrum is formed from 5 fused vertebrae and the coccyx is formed from 4 fused vertebrae. They have no mobility in them. The main function is to connect the spine with our pelvis. So, they form a joint known as the sacroiliac joint on the right and left sides. In this joint, the sacrum is the part of the spine and the iliac is the part of the pelvis. Since there is no mobility, the disorders of these are very less and not commonly seen.

Spinal Cord - All these vertebrae are arranged to form a canal, running from top to bottom. This canal is known as the spinal canal through which the spinal cord runs. So broadly, we can say that the function of these vertebrae or spine is to protect the spinal cord. This spinal cord is covered by bone all around. The spinal cord is the continuation of the brain itself. The actual spinal cord starts from the base of the head and runs down and finishes at the L1 vertebrae. From there, it is a continuation of the spinal cord known as cauda equina. It is not the spinal cord, but it is the collection of nerve roots. These nerve roots are responsible for nerve supply in our lower limbs and also for normal bladder and bowel functions.

How Is the Spine Kept Healthy?

The spine may be protected and back issues can be avoided by having strong back muscles. One should try to perform stretching and back-strengthening exercises at least twice each week. Planks and other core-strengthening exercises help to build the back, side, and abdominal muscles, which support the spine better. Other safety precautions include:

When lifting objects, bend the knees while maintaining a straight back.
If necessary, lose weight since being overweight puts strain on the spine.
Maintain a straight spine.

Conclusion:

Small bones (vertebrae), cushioning discs, nerves, joints, ligaments, and muscles make up the complex structure of the spine. The anatomy in this area is vulnerable to damage, arthritis, herniated discs, pinched nerves, and other issues. The ability to enjoy life may be impacted by back discomfort. The healthcare practitioner can give advice on how to strengthen the muscles that support the back, reduce back discomfort, and avoid back injuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What Are the Five Sections of the Spinal Cord?

The five parts of the spinal cord are divided into five regions. They are listed below:
- Cervical.
- Lumbar.
- Thoracic.
- Sacrum.
- Coccyx.

2. What Are Those Major Seven Structures in the Spinal Cord?

The spinal cord consists of seven cervical vertebrae from C1 to C7. This part of the spine has lordosis, a backward bent at the first and second cervical vertebrae that control 50 % of the head movement. The rest of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth cervical vertebrae make up the other 50 % of the movements. The seventh vertebrae are the transitional vertebrae since it is a cervical vertebra but behaves like thoracic vertebrae.

3. What Are the Four Important Areas of the Spinal Cord Region?

The spinal cord and the body's spine are divided into four regions from top to bottom: cervical, lumbar, thoracic, and areas. Damage to the nerves in the spine can result in many health conditions based on the region that is connected to the part of the body.

4. Which Part of the Leg Was Controlled by the Spine?

The vertebrates in the spine provide the bony enclosure for the individual nerves descending from the spinal cord's end. These tails of nerves are called equine. This controls the movement of the legs. The nerve from the lower spinal cord and equine controls leg sensations and movement.

5. What Is Present at the End of the Spinal Cord?

The coccyx is the end of the spinal cord. It is also called the tailbone. Four fused forms of vertebrae make up this small piece of bone found at the base bottom of the spine. The pelvic muscles and the ligaments are attached to the coccyx.

6. What Is the Main Part of the Spine?

The cauda equina in the lower part of the spine provides sensation to the muscles in the lower body. Spinal nerves send electrical signals between one's brain cells, the spinal cord, and the rest of the body. Electrical nerve signals help to feel sensations and to move the body.

7. Where Does the Spinal Locate in a Human?

The spinal cord is located inside the spinal column, which comprises around 33 bones called vertebrae. Five vertebrae are combined and fused to form the sacrum part, the part of the pelvis, and four smaller vertebrae are connected to form the coccyx.

8. Paralysis Is Caused by Which Part of the Spine?

The seven vertebrae that are present in the neck are called cervical vertebrae. These cervical spinal injuries usually cause loss of function in the legs and the arms that result in quadriplegia and also paralysis of the spinal cord.

9. What Are the Easily Injured Parts of the Spine?

The Lumbar and the cervical spines are the easily injured parts of the spinal cord. The cervical spine is easily injured because it has only lesser protection. Feeling weak or pain in the lower back region is an injured lumbar spine. Arthritis and degenerative joint diseases commonly affect the lumbar spine.

10. What Are the Organs Near to the Spine?

The lower back consists of five vertebrae. The discs between them cushion the bones and ligaments holding the vertebrae. The lower back has 31 nerves. Organs such as kidneys, colon, pancreas, and uterus are near the lower back.

11. Which Area of the Spine One Can Feel Painful Spinal Stenosis?

Spinal stenosis can be felt in the lower back, causing pain and cramping in one or both legs. It happens when one stands for a long time or walks longer. Symptoms get worse when one bends forward or while sitting.