Your spine extends from your skull to your pelvis. It is made up of 24 individual bones called vertebrae, which are stacked on top of each other.
- The front of each vertebra is solid and is called the vertebral body. Behind the body of each vertebra is an arch of bone called the lamina.
- The arches form a hollow channel known as the spinal canal or vertebral canal, which protects the spinal cord and nerves.
- A pair of spinal nerves branch out (one to the left and one to the right) from each vertebra.
- These nerves are called nerve roots and pass through gaps in the arches where they join up to provide sensation and movement to parts of the body.
- The gaps are called foramens.
- The vertebrae are separated by soft pads or discs that act as shock absorbers.
- Each vertebra also has two sets of joints called facet joints which, with the discs, allow the spine to bend.
The nerve root foramens are covered by the discs at the front and the facet joints at the back.
- The vertebrae are also held together by tough bands called ligaments.
- Together with the spinal muscles, these give the back its strength.
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