What is Spine?
{{for|the network of nerves inside the spine|Spinal cord}} [[File:Gray 111 - Vertebral column-coloured.png|thumb|right|upright|The vertebral column as seen from the side]] [[File:Gray82.png|thumb|433x433px|A typical [[Thorax|thoracic]] [[vertebra]] viewed from above. The unlabeled hole in the middle will form the Spinal canal]] [[File:Lumbar mri 0017 rgbc 68f.jpg|thumb|An [[Magnetic resonance imaging|MRI]] of the human spine. The part in blue is the spinal canal. It also shows that one vertebra has been broken (L-3), which means that the spinal cord is compressed at one point (L-3,L-4 impingement) .|alt=]] The '''spine''' is a [[column]] of [[vertebra]]e in the back part of the [[torso]] (upper body). It is also called the '''backbone''' or '''vertebral column'''. There is a spinal canal that runs through the length of the spine. Inside this canal is the [[spinal cord]]. Animals that have a spine are called [[vertebrate]]s, and animals that do not have one are called [[invertebrate]]s. Humans have a spine, so we are vertebrates. Many vertebrates, including [[mammal]]s, have [[intervertebral disc]]s separating the vertebrae. == Regions == The vertebral column has five ''regions''. These regions from top to bottom are: * Cervical - Shown in red, this region supports the [[head]]. It is made up of 7 vertebrae. The first two, called the atlas and axis, connect the spine to the skull. * Thoracic - Shown in blue, this region supports the [[rib cage|ribs]]. It is made up of 12 vertebrae. * Lumbar - Shown in yellow, this region is located in the lower back. It is made up of 5 vertebrae. *[[Sacrum|Sacral]] - Shown in green. It is made up of 5 vertebrae that are [[fusion|fused]] together. *[[Coccyx|Coccygeal]] - Shown in purple. It is made up of 3 to 5 vertebrae. == Spinal canal == The spinal column has an opening called spinal canal and this opening is used for [[Nerve|nerves]]. The part of the [[central nervous system]] in the spinal column is called [[spinal cord]]. == References == * [http://www.bartleby.com/107/ G