Spine Anatomy

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Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain

Peer-Reviewed Article

Discover the connection between spinal anatomy and back pain. Learn about common causes and the essential structures involved in back and neck pain.

Posterior view of the upper body highlighting the spine

Overview

Anatomy Of Nerve Pain

Illustration of vertebrae in the cervical spine

All About the C2-C5 Spinal Motion Segments

Anterior view of two vertebrae showing the disc between them.

Medical illustration showing a leaking herniated disc which causes a pinched nerve

How Long Does a Pinched Nerve Last?

Medical illustration of the cervicothoracic junction that occurs between the C7 and T1 vertebrae

All About the C7-T1 Spinal Segment (Cervicothoracic Junction)

Posterior view of the piriformis muscle in the buttocks.

Anatomy of the Piriformis Muscle

Posterior view of the upper body highlighting the spine

Spinal Anatomy and Back Pain

Posterior view of the lower back and pelvis highlighting low back pain.

Back Muscles and Low Back Pain

Lumbar Vertebrae showing nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosis, cartilaginous endplates

Lumbar Vertebrae

Spinal Nerves/Cauda Equina

Spinal Cord and Cauda Equina of the Lumbar Spine

Highlighting T12-L1 spinal segment level in the spine.

All About T12-L1 (Thoracolumbar Junction)

Radicular pain highlighted in the cervical spine with man standing upright

Radiculopathy, Radiculitis and Radicular Pain

Medical illustration showing conditions that may occur in the cervical spine. Degenerative disc disease, facet joint osteoarthritis, herniated disc, and spinal stenosis are labeled.

All About the C5-C6 Spinal Motion Segment

Cervical dermatomes C5, C6, C7, and C8.

Cervical Spinal Nerves

Cervical Spine Anatomy

Skeletal view of the lumbar spine with L5 and S1 highlighted

All about L5-S1 (Lumbosacral Joint)

Anterior view of the sacroiliac joints in the pelvis

Sacroiliac Joint Anatomy

Infographic of Anatomy of L5-S1

Anatomy of Lumbosacral Joint L5-S1 Infographic

Lumbar spine showing spinal cord nerve roots.

Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerve Roots

Posterior view of the back highlighting the lumbar spine

Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Pain

Medical illustration of oblique muscles

Soft Tissues of the Lumbar Spine

Medical illustration of the torso and upper legs. The thighs are highlighted in red to indicate pain

Sciatic Nerve: Muscle Innervation and Function

Illustration highlighting the c1 c2 vertebrae in the cervical spine.

The C1-C2 Vertebrae and Spinal Segment

Medical illustration of the spinal cord and nerves in the cervical spine

Spinal Cord Anatomy in the Neck

Transparent skull and upper body with the cervical spine highlighted.

Cervical Vertebrae

Anterior view of lumbar spine labeling L3-L4 disc, L4-L5 disc, and L5-S1 disc.

All About the L3-L4 Spinal Segment

Anterior view of the pelvis highlighting the Iliolumbar ligament, anterior sacroiliac ligament, sacrotuberous ligament, and sacroiliac joint.

Sacroiliac Joint Ligaments and Muscles

Infographic Showing the Functions of the Spine

Functions of the Spine Infographic

Anterior view of two vertebrae showing the disc between them.

An adult pelvis showing tendons of muscles.

Soft Tissues and Essential Functions of the Coccyx

Medical illustration showing the lumbar nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord

Lumbar Spinal Nerves

Posterior view of the body highlighting the sciatic nerve in the leg.

Sciatic Nerve Anatomy

Posterior view of the upper back highlighting the thoracic vertebrae

Thoracic Spine Anatomy and Upper Back Pain

Medical illustration of the cervical spine, the C6-C7 vertebrae are highlighted

All About the C6-C7 Spinal Motion Segment

Illustration of anatomy of cervical spine muscles

Neck Muscles and Other Soft Tissues

Anterior view of the lumbar spine labeling L4, and L5.

All About the L4-L5 Spinal Segment

Posterior view of the lower back highlighting the lumbar spine.

Understanding Lower Back Anatomy

Posterior view of the buttocks labeling the piriformis muscle, S1, S2, and sciatic nerve.

Piriformis Muscle: Blood Supply and Innervation

Vertebral column comparing shapes of cervical, thoracic, and lumbar vertebra.

Vertebrae in the Vertebral Column

Anterior view of the pelvis labeling the lumbar spine, sacrum, and tailbone.

Sacrum (Sacral Region)

Medical illustration of the lumbar spine. The L3-L4, L4-L5, and L5-S1 discs between the vertebrae are labeled

Posterior view of the pelvis highlighting the coccyx.

Anatomy of the Coccyx (Tailbone)

Nerve root compression

What Spinal Cord and Nerve Compression Feels Like

Video

Posterior view of the upper body highlighting the thoracic spine.

Spine Anatomy Overview Video

Posterior view of the muscles of the low back that can cause spasms.

Lumbar Spine Anatomy Video

Posterior view of skull and cervical spine.

Cervical Spine Anatomy Video

Spinal Motion Segment: C5-C6 Video

Spinal Motion Segment: C1-C2 (Atlantoaxial Joint) Animation

Spinal Motion Segment: C2-C5 Animation

Spinal Motion Segment: C6-C7 Animation

Spinal Motion Segment: C7-T1 (Cervicothoracic Junction) Animation

Anterior view of the cervical spine labeling cervical discs C1-C7.

Cervical Nerve Anatomy Animation

Transparent cervical spine with the discs highlighted.

Cervical Disc Anatomy Animation

Anterior view of the cervical muscles and a superior view of a vertebra.

Cervical Spinal Cord Anatomy Animation

Cervical Muscle Anatomy Animation

Anterior view of the cervical spine showing C3-C6.

Cervical Vertebrae Anatomy Animation

Posterior view of the piriformis muscle located in the buttocks.

Piriformis Muscle Anatomy Animation

Anterior view of the sacroiliac joint.

Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Anatomy Video

Anterior view of the trunk highlighting the L4-L5 vertebral segment.

Spinal Motion Segment: L4-L5 Animation

Anterior view of the pelvis highlighting L5-S1.

Spinal Motion Segment: L5-S1 Animation

Anterior view of the pelvis labeling the lumbar spine L1-L5

Lumbar Nerve Anatomy Animation

Anterior view of the lumbar spine labeling L1-L5 discs.

Lumbar Disc Anatomy Animation

Highlighting L3-L4 spinal segment level in the lumbar spine.

Spinal Motion Segment: L3-L4 Animation

Highlight of the T12-L1 spinal motion segment.

Spinal Motion Segment: T12-L1 Animation

Muscles and ligaments of the lumbar spine

Lumbar Muscle Anatomy Animation

All About Spinal Cord Compression | A 3D Animation

Spinal cord and spinal nerves

Spinal Cord and Spinal Nerves: What is the Difference? Animation

Causes and Diagnosis

Causes of Pain in the Lumbar Spine

Treatment

Illustration of C6-C7 herniation and nerve impingement. Nerve roots, nucleus, annulus, material impinges onthe nerve and the 7th cervical vertebra are labeled.

C6-C7 Treatment

Medical illustration showing the C7-T1 junction

C7-T1 Treatment

Illustration of the steps of a posterior cervical discectomy

C2-C5 Treatment

A medical illustration of the L5 and S1 vetebrae of the lower back.

L5-S1 Treatment

Anterior view of disc between two lumbar vertebrae.

7 Healing Secrets for Spinal Disc Pain Relief

Medical illustration showing the C5-C6 vertebral segment

C5-C6 Treatment

Medical illustration of a health L4 vertebra, the nerve root, disc nucleus and annulus are also labeled.

L3-L4 Treatment

thoracic spinal nerve and the intervertebral foramen

T12-L1 Treatment

Woman with neck pain wearing a neck brace

C1-C2 Treatment

Medical illustration of the spine. The L4 and L5 vertebrae are highlighted.

L4-L5 Treatment

Infographic of 5 Tips for Lumbar Pain Relief

5 Tips for Lumbar Herniated Disc Pain Relief Infographic

More on this Topic

Anterior view of the lumbar spine labeling L4, and L5.

Problems at L4-L5? Don’t Miss These 5 Key Insights

Anterior view of back muscles in the lumbar spine including quadratus lumborum muscle, piriformis muscles, diaphragm, and psoas muscle.

The Essential Role of the Psoas Muscle