Why do the vertebrae of different parts of the spine differ in shape and structure?
Spine structure
The spine is made up of 33 separate bones stacked one on top of the other. This spinal column provides basic support for your body, allowing you to stand upright, bend and twist your body, protecting your spinal cord from injury. Strong muscles and bones, flexible tendons and ligaments, and sensory nerves contribute to a healthy spine. However, any of these structures suffering from stress, injury, or disease can cause pain.
Seen from the side, the adult spine has a natural S-shaped curve. The neck and lumbar areas have a slight concave curve, while the thoracic and sacral areas have a gentle convex curve. The curves work like a coil spring to absorb shock, maintain balance, and allow movement throughout the spine.
Muscles and correct posture maintain natural spin curves. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit, and lie so that the least amount of deformity is placed on the spine during movement or weight activity. Overweight, weak muscles, and other forces can pull on the alignment of the spine.
Abnormal curve of the lumbar spine – lordosis.
The abnormal curve of the thoracic spine is kyphosis.
An abnormal side-to-side curve is called scoliosis.
The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions
- cervical;
- chest;
- lumbar;
- sacral;
- coccyx.
Only the top 24 bones are mobile; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused. The vertebrae in each department have unique functions that help them perform their core functions.
Distinctive features
The spinous process bifurcates into two parts and is called the bifid spinous process.
There are two transverse holes, one in each transverse process. They guide the vertebral arteries.
The vertebral foramen is triangular
There are unique cervical vertebrae. C1 and C2 (called atlas and axis respectively) are specialized, allowing you to move the head.
The C7 vertebrae has a much longer spinous process.
