Spine Function

will help you achieve the same. So, without any further delay, let’s jump into the spine!

Before jumping into the sections, Ahmedabad’s best spine surgeon’s guide to spine function will elaborate on the entire structure of the spine with the parts in detail.

• Vertebrae: Our spine is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae. They are large, round portions of bones. When these bones are stacked on each other, they are called the spinal canal. The spinal canal contains the spinal cord and nerves. It helps to protect them from external damage. All the vertebrae move except the last one because the last vertebrae (sacrum & coccyx) are fused together.
• Facet Joints: Facet joints or spinal joints are nothing but slippery connective tissue called cartilage. This cartilage allows the vertebrae to slide against each other. Because of this joint, we can bend and twist our spine. In other words, it provides stability & flexibility to the spine. When this slippery substance starts to deteriorate, the flexibility decreases with additional pain while moving.
• Intervertebral Disks: The vertebrae bones are connected through a gel-like substance called a disk. The disk has a softer inner portion(nucleus) and a harder outer portion (annulus). It absorbs shock and helps the bones to stick together.
• Spinal Cord & nerves: The spinal cord is a column of 33 pairs of spinal nerves that runs through the spinal canal extending from the skull to the lower back. The function of these nerves is to carry messages between the brain and the muscles.
• Soft Tissues: The soft tissues that connect the spine with the muscles are called ligaments. It helps in movement.

Sciatica is a nerve that runs from the lower back down to the hips and legs. In this condition, the sciatica nerve is damaged by other spinal conditions like herniated disc, bone spur, etc. The sciatica nerve is compressed in these conditions, leading to radiating pain. There are several spine conditions or disorders affecting various parts or segments of the spine. Let us have a quick look at those –

Scoliosis is an abnormality of the spine curve. It is mainly seen in children aged 9-14 yrs. It is seen that females are affected 7 times more than males. Though the curve’s abnormality is mild and not considered life-threatening, the condition can worsen as the child grows and affect the lungs and the heart. This unnatural curve can affect any segment of the spine.

Sciatica is a nerve that runs from the lower back down to the hips and legs. In this condition, the sciatica nerve is damaged by other spinal conditions like herniated disc, bone spur, etc. The sciatica nerve is compressed in these conditions, leading to radiating pain. This condition affects the lower back region.

1. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/10040-spine-structure-and-function#:~:text=Spinal%20cord%20and%20nerves%3A%20The,between%20the%20brain%20and%20muscles.
2. https://www.umms.org/ummc/health-services/orthopedics/services/spine/patient-guides/anatomy-function
3. https://www.spineuniverse.com/anatomy

Author

Dr. Tarak Patel

Dr. Tarak Patel is a top spine surgeon in Ahmedabad with over 5,000 successful surgeries. He specialises in spine pain management, including back, neck, and shoulder pain. Dr. Patel completed his MBBS and MS (Ortho) in Ahmedabad and has extensive training from top hospitals in India and the UK. He is known for his empathetic care and expertise in scoliosis and minimally invasive spine surgery. In his free time, Dr. Patel writes and shares valuable insights about his field, contributing to the advancement of spine surgery knowledge and practices.