Anatomy of the Spine
The spine, made up of a column of bones call, vertebrae,  is the part of the skeleton that extends down the center of the back.  The spine plays an important role in posture and movement, and it also protects the spinal cord.

The human spine consists of 33 vertebrae, but some of them grow together in adults. There are 7 cervical (neck), 12 thoracic (chest region), 5 lumbar (lower back), 5 sacral (hip region), and 4 coccygeal  (tailbone region) vertebrae.

The vertebrae are held in place by muscles and strong connective tissue called ligaments.  Most vertebrae have fibrous intervertebral disks between them to absorb shock and enable the spine to bend.

Common Problems
► lower back pain or strain
► herniated disc
► degenerated disc
► compression fractures
► spinal stenosis
► kyphosis
► stress fractures
   
If you're experiencing pain, discomfort or have any questions about your spine please call  1-925-939-8585 8:00 AM–5:00 PM, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM Friday.