This is how the regions of your spine are defined:. Cervical spine: Beginning at your skull, the cervical vertebrae are the first seven. They are the smaller, lighter vertebrae of your neck. Thoracic spine: The next 12 vertebrae run from your neck down your mid-back.
Each forms a joint with your 12 pairs of ribs. Lumbar spine: From your ribs to your sacrum, the lower five vertebrae comprise the lumbar spine. These are the largest vertebrae in your spine. Sacral region: Continuing down the bottom of the spine are the five bones that create your sacral region. These are fused together. The C1 vertebra that holds the skull is known as the atlas. It is a ring-shaped vertebra, supporting the skull. The C2 is known as the axis.
It consists of a blunt, tooth-like structure known as odontoid, projecting upward into the atlas. The C1 and C2 vertebrae are responsible for the turning and the rotation of the head. The rest of the cervical vertebrae C3 to C7 are box-shaped. The anatomy of the human cervical vertebrae is shown in figure 2. Figure 2: A Human Cervical Vertebra. The vertebral body of the cervical vertebrae is thin and surrounded by the vertebral foramen and transverse foramina.
The spinal cord and its meninges pass through the neck via the vertebral foramina of the cervical vertebrae. Carotid arteries and jugular veins that supply blood to the brain pass through the transverse foramina. The lateral view of the cervical vertebrae is shown in figure 3. Figure 3: Cervical Vertebrae — Lateral View. The spinous process and the transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae are small.
They serve as connection points to the muscles such as the trapezius and spinalis muscles. The thoracic vertebrae refer to the twelve bones to which the ribs are attached. The first thoracic vertebra occurs just below the last cervical vertebra.
The twelve thoracic vertebrae occur in the thoracic region of the body. They are abbreviated from T1 to T12 from top to bottom. In addition to protecting the spinal cord and support, the thoracic vertebrae provide attachment sites for the ribs.
Therefore, the thoracic vertebrae are more stable than the cervical and lumber vertebrae. The position of the thoracic vertebrae is shown in figure 4.
Figure 4: Thoracic Vertebrae red. The vertebral body of the thoracic vertebrae is heart-shaped. It is broad in both antero-posterior and the transverse directions. The anatomy of the human thoracic vertebrae is shown in figure 5. Figure 5: A Human Thoracic Vertebra.
On either side of the vertebral body of the T1-T10 vertebrae, a single costal and two demi-facets can be observed near the root of the pedicle. At the heart of this foundational structure are 33 vertebrae that run from the base of your head down to your pelvis.
These vertebrae are divided by 23 discs, which provide crucial cushioning, support, and movement. At its core, radiculopathy refers to the symptoms that develop when a nerve is pinched. As the primary conduit for your nervous system, your spine contains nerves that branch out along its length, which are called nerve roots. Most pinched nerves stem from the following:. If the pinched nerve is located in your neck, you may experience local symptoms or symptoms that radiate outward to your shoulders, arms , and hands.
That said, the problem can develop, which typically leads to symptoms that affect the immediate area, but they can also come around to the front of your body. If your pinched nerve is located in your lower back, you may feel symptoms down into your buttocks and lower extremities.
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