1. Cervical & Thoracic Spine

2. Spinal Column Anatomy
An abnormal curve of the lumbar spine is lordosis, also called sway back.
An abnormal curve of the thoracic spine is kyphosis, also called hunchback.
An abnormal curve from side-to-side is called scoliosis

3. Vertebrae Anatomy
Brown = spinous process (attachment point for ligament and muscular attachments)
Purple = lamina (provides protection for underlying nerves)
Green = superior articular processes (meet to form a facet joint)
Aqua = pedicles (lateral wall of the spinal canal; protects the spinal cord and nerve roots; spinal nerve roots branch out through the pedicles to rest of body)
Pink = transverse processes (attachment point for ligament and muscular attachments)
Grey = body (most of the weight is transferred through here)

4. Cervical Spine Role of the cervical spine? How many?
Function of the cervical spine is to support the weight of the head (about 10 pounds).
There are seven cervical vertebrae are numbered C1 to C7.
The cervical spine has the greatest range of motion because of two specialized vertebrae that connect to the skull. The first vertebra (C1) is the ring-shaped atlas that connects directly to the skull. This joint allows for the nodding or “yes” motion of the head. The second vertebra (C2) is the peg-shaped axis, which has a projection called the odontoid, that the atlas pivots around. This joint allows for the side-to-side or “no” motion of the head.

5. Thoracic Spine Role of the thoracic spine? How many?
The thoracic spine connects the ribs and form part of the back wall of the thorax.
Also allows for some movement (bending/twisting), but has considerably less than the lumbar and cervical spines
Very narrow, thin intervertebral discs, so there is much less movement allowed between vertebrae than in the lumbar or cervical parts of the spine.
12 vertebrae make up the thoracic spine

6. Intervertebral Discs
An intervertebral disk acts as shock absorber between each of the vertebrae in the spinal column by keeping the vertebrae separated when there is impact from activity.
They also serve to protect the nerves that run down the middle of the spine and intervertebral disks.
There are a total of 24 disks in the human spine.
The disks are made of fibrocartilaginous material. The outside of the disk is made of a strong material called the annulus fibrosus. Inside this protective covering is a jelly-like substance known as mucoprotein gel.
This interior is known as the nucleus pulposus. As the spine receives pressure, the gel moves inside the annulus fibrosus and redistributes itself to absorb the impact of the pressure.