VERTEBRAE COLUMN

Parts of the column:

Atlas
Axis
Cervical - 7 vertebrae
Thoracic - 12 vertebrae
Lumbar - 5 vertebrae
Sacrum *
Coccyx *

*= fused together

Ligaments

Anterior longitudinal ligament: Runs up the front of the vertebrae column attaching the vertebraes, it's known to be the stronger ligament out of the two.

Posterior longitudinal  ligament: Runs behind the vertebrae column attaching the vertebraes together, it's the weaker and more vulnerable ligament - thinner in lumbar and cervical regions.

Vertebrae discs

There are 23 discs in the invertebrate column.

Annulus Fibrosis: The wall of the disc, the annulus fibrosis is the thick edge of the disc which keeps the nucleus pulposus from escaping,

Nucleus Pulposus: This makes up 25% of the disc, it's a soft jelly-like substance which sits in between the annulus fibrosis, by age the water content within the pulposus decreases, this is why elderly people begin to gradually 'shrink'. The nucleus' position varies depending on the movement of the spine,

Structure of vertebrae

Vertebrae foramen: This is where the spinal chord is placed.

Body: The body of the vertebrae, where this annulus fibrosis and nucleus pulposus is found.  The anterior and posterior longitudinal ligament runs down the body.

Spinous process: We can usually feel this process run down the back of our spine.