The human spine, in other words, the spinal column, is the main supporting component of the skeleton. It is made up of individual vertebrae that are held together by an intervertebral joint and originates from the base of the skull, to which the first vertebra, called the atlas, is attached. This mount is movable through the atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital joints.
A non-rigid joint has a large degree of free movement. In the lower parts of the human spinal column is almost motionless, here it is connected to the
ilium of the pelvis from the lateral sides with the help of the sacroiliac joints.
Vertebral column: anatomy
The human spine in its structure has 5 sections. How many vertebrae are in the human spine ? The exact answer does not exist. With full health, there are from 32 to 34 vertebrae, because the number of them in the human vertebral column is directly dependent on the structure of the final (coccygeal) segment, which includes from two to four rudimentary ones that we inherited from our ancestors from the animal world.
Bends
In a normal, healthy state, it is not absolutely even, but it has physiological bends in the spinal column. This anatomy creates the conditions for maintaining vertical balance and portability of sharp motor actions. To better understand how many bends exist in the spinal column of the human body, it is necessary to consider its scheme and understand the importance of the shape of the anatomical structure for practice.
In total, in the normal condition there are four bends in the normal state: 2 - ventral (that is, with a bend forward), 2 - dorsal (with a bend back). In addition, the human vertebral bends are associated with posture, pathological conditions are often found in which the correct nature of the column undergoes some effect, from this the bends undergo transformation, and the position of the body they create changes in the same way. In addition, the formation of painful changes deepens the normal bends that exist in a healthy state. Then the bending depth of a certain department is enhanced, and as a result of this process, corresponding changes are formed in the remaining parts 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 column of the human skeleton have a connection with the spine. The lumbar and cervical spine are curved in the anterior direction (or lordozis), the thoracic and sacral, respectively, in the posterior (or kiphosis).
The cervical spine has seven separate vertebrae and is characterized by the greatest mobility. A healthy human body is able to produce a wide variety of inclined and rotational movements of the head, rotational movements of the cervical part with a sufficiently large deviation. Such unimaginable flexibility is created by the structure of the cervical segment, or rather, the originality of the first two vertebrae:
• Atlas, which is equipped with two arches, it does not have a body;
• the epistrophy has a tooth-shaped process in its structure , rotational movements of the atlas are made around the latter.
Thoracic department
The structure of the thoracic spine is extremely light. The spine in the chest covers twelve vertebrae with the ribs extending to the side. On the front surface of the body, the ribs have a connection through the sternum and thus form the so-called rib cage - formation for the 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 segment and sacrum
The vertebral column (structure) of the lumbar creates the conditions for the commission of various motor acts - body turns, rotations and inclinations in different directions. The spinal column in the lumbar region undergoes the most significant loads. Thus, the vertebrae here are much larger than in 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 isolated vertebrae. But gradually the age-related development of the spinal column leads to fusion of the vertebrae and the formation of a common structural part - the sacrum.
Coccygeal department
The vertebral column in the coccygeal section has from three to five isolated vertebrae. How many vertebrae in the coccygeal segment can be determined only with the help of a special instrumental examination (radiographic or tomographic).
Spinal column structure
The connection of two vertebrae standing next door is carried out using intervertebral discs, which have different sizes. They provide the column with plasticity and elasticity. The largest disks are endowed with the lumbar and cervical spines of the human body. However, due to this good mobility and disk power, these segments are most likely to be injured. Also, hernias of the discs and various chronic pathologies of the musculoskeletal system are often formed here. The most common type of disease is osteochondrosis, a degenerative pathological process of intervertebral discs.
The human spine is built of hotel anatomical structures - vertebrae, intervertebral discs and articular joints (joints).
Human spinal column function
The spine is the main musculoskeletal system of a person. It also makes it possible to maintain the balance of the body, serves as the 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:
• slopes in different directions;
• extensor and flexion movements;
• rotational movements around its axis;
• upright posture.
Part of the cervical (from the third to the seventh vertebra), the thoracic and lumbar regions are endowed with the same structure of the intervertebral joints, except for the modified first and second vertebrae of the cervical region and the sacral segment in the adult human body (it consists of five fused vertebrae and is completely immobile).
The intervertebral joints are located on the processes of the vertebrae and create conditions for the mobility of the column. It is practically not possible to move with a certain vertebra, since in case of disturbance of rest of one vertebra, immediately nearby ones move. The cervical and lumbar areas are endowed with the greatest mobility; the rest of the vertebrae can only move slightly.
The most common pathologies and spinal column: anatomy of the 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 degenerative-degenerative process in the intervertebral discs of a non-inflammatory nature. With this disease, connective and cartilage 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 hernia of the intervertebral disc - Schmorl. This process is manifested in the form of the gelatinous core going beyond disk boundaries. This pathology is aggravated by problems on the part of the circulatory and nervous systems, since these protrusions can compress blood vessels in the spine (vertebral), as well as nerve roots extending from the spinal cord. The last complication is called sciatica, because as a result of compression, the roots become inflamed.
The spinal column of a person can undergo an inflammatory process (including an autoimmune reaction or trauma) in the joints - arthritis.
Clinically, most of the diseases of the spine pass with significant pain, decreased mobility of the column and other signs.
All described pathologies require timely therapy, and sometimes immediate intervention.
Spinal column injuries are also dangerous.
First Aid Injury
It is necessary to ensure the injured horizontal position with maximum extension of the spine and immobility before the arrival of the ambulance. It is forbidden to force the victim to move and transport him, because there is the possibility of new injuries and, consequently, complications. Transportation of the injured is allowed in exceptional cases - in case of danger during leaving in place.
The human spinal column is a unique structure in the body that is endowed with supporting, protective, motor functions. Thus, care for the physical condition, the prevention of pathologies and their timely treatment are necessary to maintain health. Vertebrae and 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 components of the spine and maintain motor ability throughout life.