Figure 1.1
This image is a side-on view of the
spine.
ote that the spine consists of verte-
brae stacked on top of one another.
There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 tho-
racic vertebrae, 5 lumbar vertebrae
and 5 sacral vertebrae. The sacral ver-
tebrae 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
movement of the whole body is depend-
ent on the spine, which acts as our cen-
tral core. The second and equally
important function 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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