Thank you for joining me again this evening for our nightly podcast. I perform these podcasts in the hopes that you can a better educate yourself and make better informed decision regarding your health care in the future. I am doctor Harrison Campbell of Restoration Health a premier sugar land chiropractors office. Previously we broke down the board examinations required before you can obtain your doctor of chiropractic license. Tonight we will discussing spinal anatomy so that you can have a better understanding of your spine.

To start our discussion on spinal anatomy we will break down the parts of the spine. You have often heard me use terms such as cervical thoracic or lumbar at times when I am talking. These terms refer to the areas of the spinal column and provide a location to what is being discussed. As sugar land chiropractors know the cervical spine is the neck. There are seven cervical vertebrae in the neck. Most vertebrae are composed of a vertebral body, two transverse processes, and posterior elements. These posterior elements include two lamina joining and a spinous process. The vertebral body combined with the lamina create ring which houses the spinal cord. Above and below the vertebral body where is joins with the lamina are facet joint which articular with the vertebrae above and below. Most vertebrae whether in the cervical thoracic or lumbar spine, but there are some exceptions.

Now often times you hear sugar land chiropractors use terms like c two or the c four and c five disc is herniated. The letter c designates the vertebrae as being in the cervical spine. Similarly a vertebrae in the thoracic spine would be labeled as T four for instance while a lumbar vertebrae would be labeled L one. This shortened terminology allows for precise and quick identification of a location in the spinal column. It would take much longer to find something if you said it was the fifteen vertebrae. By breaking the spine into sections and numbering these it is easier to quickly assess.

The first cervical vertebrae or C one is often called atlas. This is because of all vertebrae in the spine this one is the most unique. It does not hold the traditional elements of a vertebrae as it is simply a ring which the skull rests on. It has two articulations with the skull called atlantooccipital joints. There is not a spinous process on this vertebrae. This is truly the most unique vertebrae of them all.

Below this atlas is the second cervical vertebrae or C two which is often called axis. The reason sugar land chiropractors call this bone axis is because of the unique shape of the bone allowing for a majority of the rotation in the neck to occur here. There is a bony prominence which stick up from axis called the dens. This dens acts as a pivot point for axis to rotate either left or right which in turn creates the rotation we have in our necks.

The third through seventh vertebrae are more closely in line with the traditional vertebrae. All of the elements we discussed previously are present. Now for these vertebrae there is a special notch in the transverse processes to house the vertebral artery. This artery as sugar land chiropractors know runs up into the skull and supplies parts of the brain with oxygen and nutrients. Now the cervical spine as a whole has facets joint which are unique. These joints are angled at forty five degrees. This angle is important because it allows the range of motion we need in the cervical spine to be attainable.

Now in between vertebrae is a structure which we have spoken of before. The intervertebral disc often shortened to disc acts as a cushion between these vertebrae. The cervical spine is unique with these disc. As sugar land chiropractors know there is no dis between the skull and the atlas nor is there a disc between atlas and axis. Due to the unique nature of these vertebrae and their articulations there is no physiological need for a disc. The first vertebral segments with a disc is between the c two and c three vertebrae. Now these disc in the cervical spine bear only the weight of the head. This makes them overall smaller than discs else where. In addition to them being smaller they are also relatively the same height throughout the cervical spine. This disc height is important on X-ray imaging as a thin disc usually indicates a potential disc herniation being present.

Well unfortunately most of our time has been taken up with the breakdown of the cervical spinal anatomy. We will wrap of the cervical spine and tomorrow we will discuss the thoracic and lumbar spinal anatomy. The area which we have not covered yet in regards to spinal anatomy is the nerve roots coming off the spinal cord. You may have often heard the term C five nerve. This is the nerve root which is the fifth one in the cervical spine. This again makes the cervical spine unique. There are a total of eight spinal nerve even though there is only seven cervical vertebrae. Additionally the nerve exits above the corresponding vertebrae. This means that the C five nerve exits the spinal column via a transverse foramen in between the C four and C five vertebrae.

People often associate the cervical spine with sugar land chiropractors because of the adjustments we perform. While we do often treat cervical spine problems we do much more and are experts in spinal anatomy do not limit your view of chiropractic to only the spine. So next time you have a problem and its outside the spine do not hesitate to call Restoration Health for an appointment.

Thank you for joining us this evening. I do hope you found the information on your spine informative and educational. If you have more questions please call Restoration Health today in order to schedule an appointment today. Should you or someone you know require the services of sugar land chiropractors please call Restoration Health today in order to schedule an appointment.