Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Your spine is composed of a number of different bones, joints, discs, nerves and soft tissues all working in unison to help you perform countless actions throughout the day. You may have a basic understanding of some of these structures and their roles in their spinal complex, but we wanted to use today’s blog to take a closer look at the main players in your back. In today’s blog, we explore the major functions of some of the main components of your spine.

Spine Anatomy 101

Here’s is a quick breakdown of six of the main components of your spine:

• Vertebrae – When you think of your spine, your vertebrae are what you likely think of first. These are individual bones that end up forming your spinal column. The average adult has 33 vertebrae in their spine. There are seven in the neck, 12 in the mid-back, five in the lower back, five fused into your sacrum and four fused into your coccyx.
• Intervertebral Discs – Between your vertebrae lie intervertebral discs. These fibrocartilaginous discs act as shock absorbers for your spine and also play a crucial role in allowing you to bend and twist your back. These discs can wear down over the years as a result of normal physical stress, and if they are ever overloaded in an acute moment of strain, they can herniate, causing problems for the disc and nearby spinal nerves.
• Spinal Cord – Your spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves that run from your brainstem down through your spinal canal. Protected by your vertebrae, your spinal cord acts as the central communication pathway between your brain and the rest of your body. Spinal nerves branch out from the spinal cord to control a variety of bodily functions.
• Spinal Ligaments – Your spinal ligaments are strong bands of connective tissue that connect vertebrae to one another. These strong ligaments are typically well protected, but they can be injured as a result of acute trauma or overstress. Some of the main ligaments in your spinal column include the anterior and posterior longitudinal ligaments, the ligamentum flavum, the interspinous ligaments and the supraspinous ligament.
• Spinal Facet Joints – Your spinal facet joints rest between adjacent vertebrae on each side of the spine. They are similar to spinal discs in that they help to provide stability to the spinal column while also aiding in flexibility and movement.
• Spinal Muscles – Finally, spinal muscles attach to the vertebrae and provide strength and mobility to the spinal column. They are typically classified as intrinsic or extrinsic spinal muscles. Intrinsic spinal muscles are deeper muscles that support your spine, while extrinsic muscles are more superficial and useful for aiding movement.

Injuries or issues can develop with any of these systems in your spine, and since many of these structures are interconnected, a problem with one can lead to a problem in another. For assistance diagnosing or treating an issue with any of these spinal systems, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi and the team at The Midwest Spine & Brain Institute today at (651) 430-3800.

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