These discs can degenerate over time and become a source of pain, a condition called degenerative disc disease. In between the vertebrae, the intervertebral discs serve as shock absorbers and help facilitate movement of the spine. These symptoms are commonly called radiculopathy, and leg symptoms may also be called sciatica. In the lumbar spine the nerves branch out from the spinal canal and exit the spine in a pattern that resembles a horses tail, called the cauda equina.Īt each segment, spinal nerve roots exit the spine through holes in the back of the vertebrae called foramen.Īny compression of the nerve root in the foraminal opening, which can occur due to bone spurs, herniated or degenerated discs, or facet joint problems, can cause pain and possible neurological symptoms to radiate along the path of the nerve. The bones in the spinal column surround and protect the spinal cord, which runs behind the vertebral bodies in a canal from the neck down to the top of the lumbar spine. There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck, twelve thoracic vertebrae in the upper back, and five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back.Įach vertebral segment is comprised of a cylinder-shaped bone in the front of the spine, called the vertebral body, a soft cartilage disc between each vertebra, and paired facet joints in the back.Įach segment is named for its upper and lower vertebra, such as the C6-C7 segment. The vertebrae are the bony building blocks of the spine. The spine is an interconnected complex of bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments, any of which can become damaged and cause pain, neurological symptoms, or loss of mobility.
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