Spine Basics
Understanding your spine's structure and function is the foundation for making informed decisions about your spinal health and treatment options.
Your Spine: A Marvel of Engineering
Your spine protects the spinal cord and nerve roots that control movement, sensation, and vital functions throughout your body.
24 mobile vertebrae work together to provide flexibility for bending, twisting, and complex movements while maintaining stability.
The spine supports your body weight, distributes loads efficiently, and maintains proper posture during all activities.
Spine Regions
- • Most mobile spine region
- • Supports head weight (~10-12 lbs)
- • Natural forward curve (lordosis)
- • Common site for disc degeneration
- • Controls arm and hand function
- • Connected to rib cage
- • Most stable spine region
- • Natural backward curve (kyphosis)
- • Less prone to disc problems
- • Protects heart and lungs
- • Largest vertebrae
- • Bears most body weight
- • Natural forward curve (lordosis)
- • Most common pain location
- • Controls leg and foot function
- • Fused into solid bone
- • Connects spine to pelvis
- • Transmits weight to legs
- • Forms back of pelvis
- • Coccyx (tailbone) at bottom
Intervertebral Discs: Your Body's Shock Absorbers
Nucleus Pulposus (Inner Core)
- • Gel-like center with high water content
- • Acts as hydraulic shock absorber
- • Distributes pressure evenly
- • Loses water with age (dehydration)
Annulus Fibrosus (Outer Ring)
- • Strong fibrous layers
- • Contains the nucleus
- • Allows controlled movement
- • Can develop tears with wear
Load Distribution
Discs distribute weight and forces across the vertebrae, preventing concentrated stress on bone and joints.
Movement Facilitation
Discs allow controlled movement between vertebrae while maintaining stability and proper alignment.
Shock Absorption
The nucleus acts like a hydraulic cushion, absorbing impact from walking, running, and daily activities.
When Things Go Wrong
Natural aging process where discs lose water content, height, and shock-absorbing ability.
Common Signs:
- • Disc height loss on X-rays
- • Dark discs on MRI
- • Increased facet joint stress
- • Potential nerve compression
When the outer ring tears and inner material pushes out, potentially compressing nerves.
Types:
- • Bulging disc (contained)
- • Herniated disc (non-contained)
- • Extruded disc (large fragment)
- • Sequestered disc (free fragment)
Small joints that guide spine movement can become arthritic or overstressed when discs degenerate.
Effects:
- • Joint inflammation and pain
- • Bone spur formation
- • Reduced movement quality
- • Potential nerve compression
Motion Preservation (ADR)
Artificial disc replacement works best when the problem is primarily disc-related and the facet joints are healthy.
- • Maintains natural movement patterns
- • Preserves load distribution
- • May reduce adjacent level stress
- • Requires healthy facet joints
Fusion Approach
Fusion may be preferred when there's instability, severe facet disease, or alignment problems.
- • Eliminates painful movement
- • Corrects alignment problems
- • Addresses instability
- • May stress adjacent levels
Key Takeaways
- • Your spine is a complex system where each part affects the others
- • Disc problems don't always cause pain, and pain doesn't always mean surgery
- • Understanding your anatomy helps you make better treatment decisions
- • Different problems require different solutions
- • Imaging shows structure, but symptoms guide treatment
- • Motion preservation works best with healthy facets and good alignment
- • Fusion is sometimes necessary for stability and pain relief
- • Hybrid approaches can address mixed problems
- • Early intervention may prevent progression
- • Individual anatomy determines the best approach
Ready to Learn More?
Now that you understand spine basics, explore how different types of pain develop and what treatment options might be right for your specific situation.