Knowra Vertebral column Vertebral column The vertebral column is a segmented axial structure made of vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and associated joints. It supports the trunk, protects the spinal cord, and permits controlled movement.
Vertebra : A bone forming part of the vertebral column, typically with a body, arch, and processes. Repeated vertebrae create the column’s segmented framework.
Spinal curvature : The sagittal-plane curves of the spine, including cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral curves. Its curves help balance the trunk and manage forces during movement.
Scoliosis : A three-dimensional spinal deformity involving lateral curvature and vertebral rotation. It changes the column’s alignment and can affect balance and function.
Notocord : A flexible axial rod that supports the bodies of chordate embryos and persists in some adult animals. It is an axial support structure that precedes or replaces vertebrae in different chordates.
Intervertebral disc : A fibrocartilaginous structure between adjacent vertebral bodies that cushions loads and permits limited movement. Discs separate most vertebral bodies and absorb compression.
Intervertebral disc herniation : Displacement of disc material beyond its usual boundary, sometimes irritating nearby nerves. Disc damage can alter how loads pass through the column and affect nerve roots.
Spinal stenosis : Narrowing of the spinal canal or neural foramina that may compress neural structures. Changes in vertebrae, discs, or ligaments can narrow spaces within the column.
Vertebral foramen : The opening within an individual vertebra that contributes to the vertebral canal. A single vertebral foramen is distinct from the canal formed by many aligned vertebrae.
Facet joint : A synovial joint between articular processes of neighboring vertebrae. These paired joints guide and limit movement between vertebrae.
Spinal biomechanics : The study of forces and motion in the spine and its supporting tissues. It explains how vertebrae, discs, and muscles share mechanical demands.
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