The human spine, in other words, the spinal column, is the main supporting component of the skeleton. It is made up of separate vertebrae, which are fastened together with the help of an intervertebral joint, and originates from the base of the skull, to which the first vertebra, called the atlas, is attached. This attachment is movable through the atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital joints.
The non-rigid type joint has a large degree of free movement. In the lower parts, the human spinal column is practically motionless, here from the sides it is connected to the ilium of the pelvis with the help of the sacroiliac joints.
Spinal column: anatomy
The human spine in its structure has 5 segments. How many vertebrae are in the human spine? There is no exact answer. With full he alth, there are from 32 to 34 vertebrae, because their number in the human spinal column is directly dependent on the structure of the final (coccygeal) segment, which includes from two to four rudimentary, which went tous from our animal ancestors.
Curves
In a normal, he althy state, the spinal column is not absolutely even, but has physiological curves. Such anatomy creates conditions for maintaining vertical balance and tolerance for sudden motor actions. To better understand how many bends there are in the spinal column of the human body, it is necessary to consider its scheme and understand the significance of the form of the anatomical structure for practice.
In total, there are four bends in the spine in the normal state: 2 - ventral (that is, with a bend forward), 2 - dorsal (with a bend back). Additionally, the vertebral curves of a person are associated with posture, often there are pathological conditions in which the correct nature of the column undergoes some influence, from which the bends undergo transformation, and in the same way the position of the body they create changes. In addition, with the formation of painful changes, the normal bends that exist in a he althy state deepen. Then the depth of the bend of a certain department increases, and as a result of this process, corresponding changes are formed in the rest of the spinal column.
Departments in the spinal column
The spine is divided into five sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral (sacrum), coccygeal.
It should be noted that the bends of the human skeleton column have a connection with the spine. The lumbar and cervical spine are curved in the anteriordirection (or lordozis), thoracic and sacral, respectively, in the posterior (or kiphosis).
The cervical spine has seven separate vertebrae and has the most mobility. A he althy human body is able to produce a wide variety of tilting and turning movements of the head, rotational movements of the neck with a fairly large deviation. Such unimaginable flexibility is created by the structure of the cervical segment, more precisely, the originality of the first two vertebrae:
• Atlas, which is equipped with two arms, it has no body;
• The epistrophy has an odontoid process in its structure, the atlas rotates around the latter.
Thoracic
The structure of the thoracic spine is extremely light. The spine in the thoracic part covers twelve vertebrae with ribs extending to the side. On the front surface of the body, the ribs are connected through the sternum and thus form the so-called chest - an education for reliable protection of important internal organs - the heart and lungs.
It should be noted that the structure of the thoracic portion of the column in humans is similar to that of vertebrate mammals. All twelve vertebrae of the thoracic segment are similar in anatomical structure. Only descending to the lumbar region, the vertebral bodies expand in size and become somewhat more massive.
Lumbar and sacrum
The spinal column (structure) of the lumbar creates the conditions for committingvarious motor acts - torso turns, rotations and tilts in different directions. The spinal column in the lumbar region undergoes the most significant load. Thus, the vertebrae here are much larger than in the previous segments: body parameters increase from top to bottom (from the first to the fifth).
At the time of birth, the human spine in the sacral region has five separate vertebrae. But gradually, the age-related development of the spinal column leads to the fusion of the vertebrae and the formation of a common structural part - the sacrum.
Coccyx
The spinal column in the coccygeal region has three to five separate vertebrae. How many vertebrae in the coccygeal segment can only be determined using a special instrumental examination (radiographic or tomographic).
Structure of the spinal column
The connection of two adjacent vertebrae is carried out with the help of intervertebral discs, which are of different sizes. They provide the post with plasticity and elasticity. The largest discs are endowed with the lumbar and cervical sections of the spine of the human body. However, because of this good mobility and disk power, these segments are the most susceptible to injury. Also, herniated discs and various pathologies of the musculoskeletal system in a chronic form are often formed here. The most common type of disease is osteochondrosis - a degenerative-dystrophic pathological process of intervertebral discs.
The human spine is built from separate anatomical formations - vertebrae, intervertebral discs and articular connections (joints).
Functions of the human spinal column
The spine is the main human musculoskeletal system. It also makes it possible to maintain the balance of the body, serves as a motor axis and performs a protective function. The muscles of the spinal column in combination with the central nervous system create the conditions for the following actions:
• tilts in different directions;
• extensor and flexion movements;
• rotational movements around its axis;
• upright posture.
Part of the cervical (from the third to the seventh vertebrae), thoracic and lumbar sections are endowed with the same structure of the intervertebral joints, except for the altered first and second vertebrae of the cervical region and the sacral segment in the adult human body (it consists of five fused vertebrae and completely motionless).
Intervertebral joints are located on the processes of the vertebrae and create conditions for the mobile ability of the column. It is practically impossible to move a certain vertebra, since when one vertebra is disturbed, the neighboring vertebrae immediately move. The cervical and lumbar regions are endowed with the greatest mobility, the vertebrae of the rest can only slightly move.
Most Common Pathologies and the Spinal Column: Anatomy of Relationship
The anatomy of the cervical segment of the spine makes it a weak link for the occurrence of osteochondrosis. This pathology consists in a dystrophic-degenerative process in the intervertebral discs of a non-inflammatory nature. With this disease, connective and cartilaginous tissues are involved in the process. A similar disease develops in the lumbar spine, the thoracic segment is rarely statistically affected.
The lumbar and cervical areas are prone to the formation of a herniated disc - Schmorl. This process manifests itself in the form of the release of the nucleus pulposus beyond the disk boundaries. This pathology is exacerbated by problems with the circulatory and nervous systems, since these protrusions can compress the blood vessels in the spine (vertebral), as well as the nerve roots extending from the spinal cord. The last complication is called sciatica, because the roots become inflamed as a result of compression.
The human spinal column can undergo an inflammatory process (including an autoimmune reaction or injury) in the joints - arthritis.
Clinically, most of the diseases of the spine resolve with significant pain, reduced column mobility and other symptoms.
All described pathologies require timely therapy, and sometimes immediate intervention.
Danger is also represented by injuries of the spinal column.
Injury First Aid
It is necessary to provide the injured person with a horizontal position with maximum extension of the spine and immobility until the ambulance arrives. It is forbidden to force the victim to move and transport him, because there is a possibility of new injuries and, accordingly, complications. Transportation of the injured is allowed in exceptional cases - in case of danger while leaving the place.
The human spinal column is a unique structure in the body, which is endowed with supporting, protective, motor functions. Thus, taking care of the physical condition, prevention of pathologies and their timely therapy are necessary to maintain he alth. The vertebrae and the spinal column, with the peculiarity of their structure in some areas, enable a person to walk upright and compensate for the loads that act on the constituent parts of the spine, and maintain motor ability throughout life.
