After suffering a strain in my lower back a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired to write you all a lovely article about causes, prevention, and cures for lower back pain. But, I realized that I couldn’t write an effective article without you having a basic knowledge of the spine. So, today I’m going to give you all a little anatomy lesson! Don’t worry, I’ll try not to make it too boring.
WHAT IS THE SPINE? We all know the spine is a bony structure that runs down the length of your back. Well, that structure is actually made up of a series of small bones (33 to be exact) called vertebrae that stack one on top of the other. These bones can articulate individually, giving your back the flexibility to twist and bend in all sorts of directions. Between each vertebrae are cushy discs called cartilage that separate the bones so they don’t rub together during movement.
WHAT DOES YOUR SPINE DO? Your spine has a couple of extremely important functions. First and foremost, the spinal column (or vertebral column) houses the spinal cord. The spinal cord, along with the brain, make up what is known as the Central Nervous System (CNS). Basically, the CNS involves the brain receiving and sending out information via the spinal cord. The spinal cord gets information from the skin, joints, muscles, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the rest of your body and sends it to the brain. The brain then determines how to react and sends out the appropriate instructions to your body. The CNS is a bit complicated, so I will go more in depth in another post!
Anyway, I also like to think of the spine as a “home base” for your limbs, pelvis, head, and ribs. Each of these connects back to the spinal column, so it is no wonder that if you have an issue with your spine, you will feel it in another part of your body. Your spine is where your center of gravity lies, where your “core” is located, and is the part of your body that accommodates changes (like weight gain) to keep you balanced. It’s your hub, and contains the thing that is most vital to your life (the spinal cord), so treat it nicely!!
PARTS OF THE SPINE As I mentioned before, the spine is actually made up of 33 bones. The top part of your spine, called the cervical spine, is made up of 7 vertebrae. This part of your spine connects to your head and makes up the neck and upper back. Below the cervical spine is the thoracic spine, which consists of 12 vertebrae. This would be where your mid-back is located. Your “lower back” is actually called the lumbar spine, and is made up of 5 vertebrae (and will be the subject of my next post!). Finally, you have the sacrum (which is made up of 5 fused bones) and the coccyx or “tailbone” (made up of 4 fused bones), which are connected to your pelvis.
Here is a diagram of what the spine looks like from the side. Make note of the curves!
MISALIGNMENTS Misalignments occur when there is additional curvature in the spinal column. The most common deviations are forward head, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and scoliosis.
- Forward Head – Normally, the head should sit atop the neck (or top part of the cervical spine) like a golf ball on a tee. With forward head, it pushes forward, exaggerating the curve in your neck. This misalignment can be caused by looking down while reading or typing, sitting improperly with your back hunched and shoulders forward, or from carrying a heavy backpack or purse. Having forward head can cause headaches, TMJ, and muscular pains in your shoulders, neck and chest.
- Thoracic Kyphosis – Thoracic kyphosis occurs when there is an increase in the curvature of the thoracic spine. On the outside, people with thoracic kyphosis look like they have a hunch back. This deviation causes the muscles in the upper back to become lax, causing muscle spasms and back pain. A more severe case of thoracic kyphosis may result in a concave chest with tight muscles. Less space in the chest means that your lungs and heart have less room to function, causing heart problems and shortness of breath. And ladies who suffer from thoracic kyphosis beware, as this may cause saggy breasts.
- Lumbar Lordosis – Lumbar lordosis is an exaggerated curvature in the lumbar spine. This deviation is commonly referred to as a “swayback”. Lumbar lordosis can be caused by a forward tilt in the pelvis and tight hip flexors, but it can also be caused by excess belly fat. Since the extra pounds cause a shift forward in your center of gravity, the back must compensate by sitting further back, thus causing the extra curvature. Those with lumbar lordosis may suffer back pain due to overly tight back muscles and lax abdominal muscles. Tightness in the hip flexors can cause hip and knee problems. And having a crunched lower spine can cause sciatica. Aesthetically, lax abs will give you a belly pooch and loose glutes will give you that big butt we all dread.
- Scoliosis – If you were to look at a normal spine from the back, it would appear to be completely straight from top to bottom. But a spine that has scoliosis will have a sideways curve in the shape of an “s” or “c”. Scoliosis can also cause a twist in the spine, pushing one set of ribs forward. This misalignment can be caused by muscular deficiencies, congenital or degenerative issues, or from other unknown reasons. Scoliosis can cause back pains, unevenness in the shoulders or hips, and difficulty breathing. In severe cases, a back brace or surgery is necessary to fix this deviation.
Okay, okay… I think I’ve given you guys enough to think about for today. But the point of all of this is that if you know how your spine is shaped and you have a better understanding of where your deviations lie, you’ll be better equipped to prevent excess curvatures before they cause any serious problems. I will go more in depth about individual misalignments and the muscles involved in the future. And don’t forget to look forward to my next article on lower back pain!
WHAT IS THE SPINE? We all know the spine is a bony structure that runs down the length of your back. Well, that structure is actually made up of a series of small bones (33 to be exact) called vertebrae that stack one on top of the other. These bones can articulate individually, giving your back the flexibility to twist and bend in all sorts of directions. Between each vertebrae are cushy discs called cartilage that separate the bones so they don’t rub together during movement.
WHAT DOES YOUR SPINE DO? Your spine has a couple of extremely important functions. First and foremost, the spinal column (or vertebral column) houses the spinal cord. The spinal cord, along with the brain, make up what is known as the Central Nervous System (CNS). Basically, the CNS involves the brain receiving and sending out information via the spinal cord. The spinal cord gets information from the skin, joints, muscles, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and the rest of your body and sends it to the brain. The brain then determines how to react and sends out the appropriate instructions to your body. The CNS is a bit complicated, so I will go more in depth in another post!
Anyway, I also like to think of the spine as a “home base” for your limbs, pelvis, head, and ribs. Each of these connects back to the spinal column, so it is no wonder that if you have an issue with your spine, you will feel it in another part of your body. Your spine is where your center of gravity lies, where your “core” is located, and is the part of your body that accommodates changes (like weight gain) to keep you balanced. It’s your hub, and contains the thing that is most vital to your life (the spinal cord), so treat it nicely!!
PARTS OF THE SPINE As I mentioned before, the spine is actually made up of 33 bones. The top part of your spine, called the cervical spine, is made up of 7 vertebrae. This part of your spine connects to your head and makes up the neck and upper back. Below the cervical spine is the thoracic spine, which consists of 12 vertebrae. This would be where your mid-back is located. Your “lower back” is actually called the lumbar spine, and is made up of 5 vertebrae (and will be the subject of my next post!). Finally, you have the sacrum (which is made up of 5 fused bones) and the coccyx or “tailbone” (made up of 4 fused bones), which are connected to your pelvis.
Here is a diagram of what the spine looks like from the side. Make note of the curves!
MISALIGNMENTS Misalignments occur when there is additional curvature in the spinal column. The most common deviations are forward head, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and scoliosis.
Okay, okay… I think I’ve given you guys enough to think about for today. But the point of all of this is that if you know how your spine is shaped and you have a better understanding of where your deviations lie, you’ll be better equipped to prevent excess curvatures before they cause any serious problems. I will go more in depth about individual misalignments and the muscles involved in the future. And don’t forget to look forward to my next article on lower back pain!