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A healthy spine allows you to enjoy good physical and mental condition for many years. Taking care of the correct posture of the body and not overloading the spine significantly affects the preservation of its natural curvature for a long time. How is the spine structured and what are its sections responsible for? What are the ailments of the individual sections of the spine?
The spine – basic information
The spine is the main axis of the human skeleton. Metaphorically, the spine is defined as the scaffolding for the whole body and the protective system for the nerves and spinal cord. The spine is also the site of attachment for many of the muscles that make up the corset around the torso. The natural curvature of the spine cushions internal organs against injuries and damage. The human spine is made up of 33 or 34 vertebrae, separated by discs. Despite the similar structure, each person’s spine is slightly different – the arrangement of the vertebrae or the shape of the curvature.
Cervical spine
The cervical spine is made up of seven cervical vertebrae. The first cervical vertebra is known to us by its common name, the atlas. This name derives from Greek mythology, in which the mythical titan Atlas held the whole world on his shoulders. Likewise, the first vertebra of the cervical segment supports the entire head. The next circle is the rotator, which is responsible for turning the head. At the border of the neck and chest, you can feel the protruding vertebra, which is the spinous process of the spine, with your fingers. If there is a characteristic bulge around it, it is referred to as a widow’s hump. The cervical segment is exposed to various damages, which are often caused by tilting the head too long or putting it forward. The pain in this segment may also result from cervical discopathy or degeneration of the cervical spine. These conditions appear as pains in the back of the head which may radiate to the front. The pains then resemble typical headaches in migraine.
Thoracic spine
The thoracic segment consists of 12 thoracic vertebrae. The thoracic vertebrae are connected to the ribs by joints. The thoracic section differs from the other sections in that discopathies are extremely rare there. However, another common disorder of this episode is osteoporotic fractures. Diseases that attack this part of the spine cause pain in the spine between the shoulder blades. Chest and abdominal pain are also common symptoms. This pain can often be confused with symptoms of chronic heart disease or gallbladder disease.
Lumbar spine
The lumbar spine consists of 5 lumbar vertebrae. This is the part of the spine that is most vulnerable to any kind of damage. This is because the lumbar section is the most stressed in everyday activities. Discopathy or degeneration of the joints causes severe and unpleasant pain in the loins. Conversely, when there is pressure on the nerves, sufferers often experience radiating pain in the leg. It is also a symptom of sciatica. The lowest lumbar vertebra is most prone to discopathy.
The sacral spine
The sacral spine is usually called the sacrum. The 5 sacral vertebrae making up this section are fused with each other. The sacrum rarely makes itself felt as pain. However, a common condition, wrongly mistaken for low back pain, is pain in the sacroiliac joint.
The coccygeal spine
The coccygeal spine is the lowest part of the spine. This section is called the coccyx and is made up of 4-5 fused cocci. The protruding tailbone, unfortunately, can very often be injured, e.g. when falling onto the back or buttocks. The pain in the coccyx is often very strong and bothersome.
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