Figure 1.1
This image is a side-on view of the spine.
Note that the spine consists of vertebrae
stacked on top of one another. There are 7
cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae,
5 lumbar vertebrae and 5 sacral verte-
brae. The sacral vertebrae are fused into
a single mass called the sacrum.
There are three mobile curves; one is
where the neck (cervical spine) and the
chest (thoracic spine) meet. The lower
curve is where the thoracic spine and the
lower back (lumbar spine) meet. The third
curve is a natural bend in the thoracic
spine.
There is one last curve, but this curve is
fixed and does not move and is the sacral
curve and consists of the sacral vertebrae
that are fused together.
The three mobile curves are important for
the normal biomechanical balance of the
spine. The integral stability and move-
ment of the whole body is dependent on
the spine, which acts as our central core.
The second and equally important func-
tion of the spine is to protect the nerves
that come from – and travel to – the brain
and control all the functions of our body.
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