back care management
- This is a preview of the essay.
To view the full text you must login!
ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
The vertebral column is made up of 33 individual vertebrae.
7 Cervical
12 Thoracic
5 Lumbar
5 Sacral
4 Coccyxgeal
The cervical/thoracic and lumbar regions create 3 natural curves of the back.
The lower segments of the spine, the Sacrum and coccyx are made up of a series of vertebrae that are fused together.
With these healthy curvatures the back is 10 x stronger than if it were straight.
The lumbar spine, with its muscular and ligaments attachments to the pelvis is the main support and load bearing regions of the back during upright postures.
The lumbar spine consists of 5 large vertebrae and is this collection of bones that is responsible for most of the physical strength of the spine.
Where each vertebrae overlaps is the facet or apophyseal joints. There are 4 facet joints on each vertebrae (2 above and 2 below) which join the adjacent vertebrae.
The nerves connect the brain to the working muscles via the spinal cord.
Damage to the spinal cord will result in malfunction and even paralysis at that level and also to any area below due to inability of these areas to receive transmissions from the brain...