These are soft pads that act as shock absorbers and prevent the bones from rubbing against each other. The gaps are called foramens, which are covered by the discs at the front and the facet joints at the back. These nerves are called nerve roots and pass through gaps in the arches where they join up to provide sensation and movement to parts of the body. NervesДЄ pair of spinal nerves branch out (one to the left and one to the right) from each vertebra.

The arches form a hollow tube known as the spinal canal, for the spinal cord to pass through. Behind the body of each vertebra is an arch of bone called the lamina. The front of each vertebra is solid and is called the vertebral body. They protect and support the spinal cord and bear the majority of the weight put upon your spine. Your spine is made up of 24 small bones, called vertebrae that are stacked on top of each other and extend from your skull to your pelvis. The spine is a made up of highly sensitive nerves, flexible ligaments, large muscles and strong bones. The lower back bears a great deal of the weight of the body and for that reason is particularly vulnerable to back pain. The lumbar is located below the thoracic section of the spine. The 'lower back' consisting of 5 vertebrae and the sacrum. This part of the spine has more limited movement so the spinal column is narrower and discs are smaller and thinner. Located below the cervical spine, this area connects to your ribs. The middle section of the back, made up of 12 vertebrae. Two unique vertebrae, the atlas and the axis, are specially adapted to enable such rotation. It is the most flexible and mobile part of the spine, enabling you to move your head freely from side to side and up and down. The neck region containing the top seven spinal vertebrae. The spinal column has three main sections that join together to form an S-like curve when viewed sideways Cervical spine Without a spinal cord you could not move any part of your body, and your organs could not function. The spine is also protects your spinal cord - the column of nerves that connects your brain to the rest of your body, allowing you to control your movements. It allows you to move about freely and to bend with flexibility. Without it you could not stand up or keep yourself upright. The spine gives your body structure and support.

T1, T2, T3, etc.).Your spine provides both incredible strength and extreme flexibility on many levels. The 12 vertebrae in the thoracic spine are numbered from the upper bones to the lowest (i.e. While this strength allows the bones to withstand pressure to the mid-back, the thoracic spine is a common area of the spine for injuries to occur. Vertebrae in the thoracic spine are broader and stronger than those in the cervical and lumbar sections. The thoracic area of the spine is one of three sections of the spinal column and sits between the cervical spine in the neck and the lumbar spine in the lower back. The thoracic spine is the middle section of vertebrae in the spine, made up of 12 vertebrae in the chest area with the ribs attached.

Sections of the spine