The spine fulfills one of the most important tasks of all bones. It carries us throughout the whole day, supports our head, shoulders, arms and chest and transmits the load to pelvis and legs. For being able to fulfill these tasks the spine has to be especially flexible and to be able to carry loads. This is the reason, why the spine consists of more than 30 different vertebral bodies; 24 in the neck-, chest- and lumbar-region, five sacral vertebras and three to five coccygeal vertebrae complete your body’s support. The first 24 vertebras are flexible, the following five vertebras in the sacral region are grown together and the vertebras in the lowest section are partly flexible, partly grown together.
Our spine is divided into five areas. The cervical vertebras are the smallest vertebras – nonetheless their task is one of the hardest: they have to carry our head. To be able to do so, the two upper cervical vertebras consist of a ring-shaped connection with a joint that connects the cranial bone with the spine.
Seen from top to bottom, the thoracic spine is next. Here, the ribs are attached. The thoracic vertebras are relatively strong and have a small joint at each end which connects them with the single ribs. These joints make it possible that our chests is lifting and sinking with every in- resp. exhalation.
The lumbar spine has to carry the heaviest load. Out of this reason, their vertebras are the biggest of our spine. To make bending and stretching possible, the lumbar spine is arch-shaped and has perpendicular joints between the single vertebras.
Finally, the coccyx which is grown together with the sacrum is forming the lower and most immobile part of the spine. Since the sacrum is pronated this is not really interfering with the movements of the back.
Intervertebral discs, ligaments, muscles and tiny joints stabilize the spine and interconnect the single vertebras at the same time. Only these elastic components enable movements of the spine.
Especially for this anatomically very important part of the body, support and relief is essential. What better way to do so than during the time our body is resting – our sleep? With the orthopaedic proper positioning you take care that your spine is prepared for the tasks of the following day!
Image Source: ©fotolia
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