2. The spine is made of 33 individual bones stacked one on top
of the other.
This spinal column provides the main support for your body,
allowing you to stand upright, bend, and twist, while
protecting the spinal cord from injury.
Strong muscles and bones, flexible tendons and ligaments,
and sensitive nerves contribute to a healthy spine.
3.
4. • An abnormal curve of the lumbar spine is lordosis, also
called sway back.
• An abnormal curve of the thoracic spine is kyphosis,
also called hunchback.
• An abnormal curve from side-to-side is called scoliosis.
5. The two main muscle groups that affect the spine are
extensors and flexors.
The extensor muscles enable us to stand up and lift
objects. The extensors are attached to the back of the
spine.
The flexor muscles are in the front and include the
abdominal muscles. These muscles enable us to flex, or
bend forward, and are important in lifting and
controlling the arch in the lower back.
6.
7. • a drum-shaped body designed to bear weight and
withstand compression (purple)
• an arch-shaped bone that protects the spinal cord
(green)
• star-shaped processes designed as outriggers for
muscle attachment (tan)
8.
9. Discs are made of a gel-filled center called the nucleus
and a tough fibrous outer ring called the annulus. The
annulus pulls the vertebrae bones together against the
resistance of the gel-filled nucleus.
10.
11. Up to 80% of experience back pain at some point.
Vertebrae and disks can wear down with age, causing
pain. Other conditions that affect spine health include:
• Arthritic conditions, such as ankylosing spondylitis (AS).
• Birth defects such as spina bifida.
• Bone spurs (jagged edges on vertebrae that put
pressure on the spinal cord and nerves).
• Curvatures of the spine (scoliosis and kyphosis).
• spinal stenosis.
• Osteoporosis (weak bones).
• Spine tumors and cancer.
• Spine infections like meningitis and osteomyelitis.
17. Physical signs of congenital spine deformities include:
• Abnormal curvature or twisting in the back, to either side,
forward or backward
• Uneven shoulders, waistline, hips or legs
• Tilted pelvis
• Difficulty walking
• Difficulty breathing
20. Tethered spinal cord
Tethered spinal cord is a neurological condition that stretches
the spinal cord like a rubber band.
This happens when abnormal tissue attachments limit the
movement of the spinal cord.
A number of conditions may cause this, but it is closely related
to
spina bifida (myelomeningocele)
abnormal fat in the spinal cord(lipomyelomeningocele)
In some cases, tethered spinal cord is related to a tighter than
normal connection (the filum terminale) between the spinal
cord and the tailbone.
23. • Arthritis from degenerative discs and facet joint
syndrome, resulting in the loss of normal vertebral
alignment (Fig. 3).
• Osteoporosis (loss of bone mass) and vertebral
compression fractures.
• Previous spine surgery (adjacent level disease). The
passage of time after a spine surgery is a leading cause
of spinal deformity.
