Vertebral Column

The vertebral column, as could also be called the spinal column or the backbone, goes from near the top to the base of the human body, at the region of the pelvis, in which space it inludes 33 bones. The functioning of the vertebral column is consequently very important, and health problems may occur due to physical strength, such as tend to occur with an effect on the curvature of the overall vertebral column. Scoliosis is the most commonly occurring health condition related the spinal column.

Spinal Column Anatomy

In terms of spinal column anatomy, this area of the body is considered the dorsal region. Graphics representing a cross section of spinal cord regions in all will show the dorsal part of the body, accordingly, either from a posterior, or back, view, or from a lateral, or side, view. According to spinal column anatomy, the backbone begins with the top cervical vertebrae, under which are the thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygal areas of the overall spinal column.

Lordosis

Lordosis is the trait of any area and length of the spinal column to curve inward, toward the body. This can appear as either a health problem or a normal feature of the spinal column. In this regard, lumbar lordosis and cervical lordosis are considered normal, and are a part of what allows these sections of the spinal column to function successfully for the backbone. Elsewhere, lordosis can be a problem.

Intervertebral Disc

An intervertebral disc occurs between most of the paired vertebrae bones, allowing for the physical linkage and the functional coordination between these parts of the spinal column. The intervertebral disc of each layer of the spinal column will include two different components, one being the nucleus pulposus, on the inside, and the other the annulus fibrosus, on the outside. People tend to have problems with their intervertebral discs as they grow older and the individual discs decline in quality, becoming torn or dehydrated.

Vertebrae

The vertebrae can be classified in terms of the various components of one vertebra, or by the larger categories into which all 33 vertebrae are variously placed. The top two vertebrae are, in descending order of placement, the atlas and axis, and are the uppermost cervical vertebrae. Under this section, the thoracic vertebrae are placed, and under these, the lumbar vertebrae. At the very bottom of the spinal cord, the sacral and then the coccygeal vertebrae are positioned.