Spine departments, their functions

The spine of a person is a very complex mechanism, on the correct functioning of which the functioning of all organs depends.

The vertebral column includes 32-33 vertebrae: cervical (7 pcs.), Thoracic (12 pcs.), Lumbar (5 pcs.), Sacral (5 pcs.) And coccygeal (3-4 pcs.). Between the vertebrae are located intervertebral discs (23 pcs.). Vertebrae make up different parts of the spine.

The vertebrae are joined together by a ligamentous-muscular apparatus, intervertebral discs, joints. All this allows you to keep the spine in an upright position and provide him with the necessary freedom when moving. The elastic properties inherent in intervertebral discs greatly soften shocks and tremors in walking, jumping and running, which are transmitted to the brain and spinal cord.

Spine parts

The spine consists of cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum and coccyx.

The cervical region refers to the upper parts of the vertebral column. It is distinguished by a special mobility, which creates freedom and a variety of head movements. The upper cervical vertebra, called the atlas and axis, has an anatomical structure that differs from the structure of the other vertebrae. Atlant and axis are responsible for the slopes and turns of the human head.

The thoracic area is responsible for the thorax, containing the vital organs, for this reason it is inactive. To it are attached the ribs (12 pairs).

The lumbar spine consists of quite massive vertebrae, because they are subjected to the greatest burden. Some people have six lumbar vertebrae. This phenomenon in medicine is called lumbarization. 8-10 vertebrae, fused, form the sacral spine.

In the vertebra there is a body, an arch, two legs, a spinous, two transverse and four articular processes. The vertebral canal is formed from vertebral apertures between an arch, legs and a body of vertebrae.

Between the two adjacent vertebrae, there is an intervertebral disc, which forms the fibrous ring and the nucleus is pulpous. It performs the functions of depreciation, retention of adjacent vertebrae, ensuring their mobility. The nucleus is enclosed in a fibrous ring that holds the nucleus in the center and prevents the vertebrae from shifting.

The fibrous ring consists of a multitude of layers and fibers that cross in three planes. In osteochondrosis, the fibers of the fibrous ring are replaced by scar tissue, which can sometimes cause a rupture of the fibrous ring and the formation of a herniated disc.

All departments of the spine are equipped with a ligament apparatus. The vertebral segment consists of two vertebrae with a disc and a ligamentous apparatus.

The spinal cord is located in the spinal canal, as well as the roots of the so-called "horse tail". The spinal cord begins in the brain region and stretches to the first and second lumbar vertebrae.

The spinal cord, which resembles all parts of the spine, is surrounded by a hard, soft and arachnoid membrane and is fixed in the spinal canal with fiber and roots.

From the spinal cord, the nerve roots (31 pairs) branch off from the intervertebral (foraminous) openings of the spinal canal.

A person, like other vertebrates, has a segmentary innervation of the body, i. E. Each of the segments of the spinal cord is responsible for a particular organ.

For example, the neck and arms innervate the segments related to the cervical region, the chest and abdomen is the thoracic region, the sacral region innervates the legs, the perineum, the rectum and the bladder.

In the spinal cord there are cervical and lumbar thickenings. Intervertebral hernia in the cervical region is more dangerous than in the lumbar.

According to the area in which the disorders of motor function and sensitivity are observed, the doctor can always guess where the damage occurred and which parts of the spine suffered.