Anatomy of spine

The curves helps the spine to support the load of head and upper body and maintain
balance in upright position

Anterior arch
Is called vertebral body, discs connect one vertebral body to another – allow
motion of spine and cushion it against heavy loads
Together the vertebral bodies and discs bear about 80% of the load of the spine
Posterior arch
Consist of
Pedicles – two short cylinder of bone bar that extends from vertebral
body.
Nerve root exit between the pedicles of two vertebrae.
If spine becomes unstable they may compress the nerve root
Lemina – Flattend plates of bone that forms the wall of posterior arch
Over time, the lamina may thicken, a process called stenosis
Processes
Foramen Passes spinal cord
Intervertebral disc
Combined they make the ¼ th the height of spinal column.
It act as a shock absorber
Made up of two component
Outer – Annulus fibrosus
Composed of layers of collagen and proteins, called Lamellae
The fibres of the lamellae slant at 30 degree angles and the
fibres of each lamellae run in direction opposite the adjacent
layers
These crreats a structure that is exceptionally strong, yet
flexible
Inner – Nucleus pulposus
Ball like gel material
Make 40 % of the disc
Composed of
Loose collagen fibres
Water (90 % at birth and decrease to 70 % by
5th decade)
Proteins
In early life the disc have a blood supply that nourishes them.
In 2nd and 3rd decade gradually looses the blood supply become
avascular. At these state the disc become degenerate