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The spinal cord is a collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. It is protected by the vertebral column (or spine), which is made up of 33 interconnected vertebrae. These vertebrae support the spinal cord and bear the weight put upon the spine. The spinal cord is surrounded by muscles, tendons, and ligaments that provide flexibility and a wide range of motion. These muscles are categorized as superficial, intermediate, or intrinsic, with the latter being considered true back muscles. They work together to allow for movements like bending, twisting, and turning the head, as well as assisting in breathing and maintaining posture.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| What is the spinal cord? | A large collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body |
| What is it made of? | 33 vertebrae |
| What does it do? | Protects the spinal cord, assists in respiration, maintains the upright posture of the body and transmits body weight |
| What is the spinal column made of? | Vertebrae, facet joints, ligaments, discs, and nerve roots |
| What does the spinal column do? | Provides flexibility and a range of motion |
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What You'll Learn
- The spinal cord is not a muscle, but nerves and muscles work together to allow movement
- The spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae, which protect and support the spinal cord
- The spinal cord carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body
- The spinal cord is surrounded by intrinsic and extrinsic back muscles
- The intrinsic back muscles are considered the 'true back muscles'
The spinal cord is not a muscle, but nerves and muscles work together to allow movement
The spinal cord is not a muscle. It is a collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body, allowing it to function. The spinal cord is protected by the vertebral column (or spine), which is made up of 33 interconnected vertebrae and their intervening joints. The vertebrae support the spinal cord and bear the majority of the weight put upon the spine. Tendons fasten muscles to the vertebrae, and the spinal column has facet joints that link the vertebrae, giving them flexibility and a range of motion.
The nerves in the spinal cord connect to specific parts of the body and allow us to control our muscles. For example, the nerves of the cervical spine go to the upper chest and arms, while the nerves of the lumbar spine reach the legs, bowel, and bladder. These nerves also carry electrical signals back to the brain that allow us to feel sensations, such as pain.
While the spinal cord itself is not a muscle, the nerves and muscles work together to allow movement. The back muscles, for instance, help control posture, movement, and breathing. They are divided into three groups: superficial (extrinsic) back muscles, intermediate back muscles, and intrinsic (deep) back muscles. These muscles run from the neck to just above the hips and attach to the vertebrae. The deep back muscles, in particular, are vulnerable during surgical procedures due to their segmental innervation.
The intrinsic or deep back muscles fuse with the vertebral column, while the superficial muscles help with shoulder and neck movements. The intermediate muscles help with the movement of the thoracic cage and flexion of the upper vertebral column and head. Together, the back muscles work in coordination with the body's nerves to enable movement and other essential functions.
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The spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae, which protect and support the spinal cord
The spinal cord is not a muscle. It is a column of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. The spinal cord is protected by the spine, which is made up of 33 stacked vertebrae, along with soft tissues, joints, ligaments, and muscles.
The spine, or vertebral column, is a long column of bones that extend from the neck to the lower back. It starts at the base of the skull and ends at the tailbone, a part of the pelvis. The spine is made up of 33 small bones called vertebrae, which are stacked on top of each other to create the spinal canal, a tunnel that houses and protects the spinal cord and nerves.
Each vertebra is held to the others by groups of ligaments, with tendons connecting muscles to the vertebrae. The spinal column also has facet joints that link the vertebrae together and give them flexibility. Each vertebra has a hole in the center, so when they are stacked on top of each other, they form a hollow tube that protects the spinal cord and its nerve roots.
The spinal cord itself is a large collection of nerve tissue. Thirty-one pairs of nerve roots branch out through vertebral openings (neural foramina) and connect to specific parts of the body. These nerves carry messages between the brain and muscles, allowing the body to function and move.
The spine is an important structure that supports the body and enables movement and sensation. It also helps protect the spinal cord from injury. The spinal column is made up of five distinct segments: the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (chest and abdomen), lumbar spine (legs, bowel, and bladder), sacral spine, and coccygeal spine.
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The spinal cord carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body
The spinal cord is not a muscle. It is a tube of tissue that runs from the brain to the lower back and carries electrical nerve signals that help the body move and feel sensations. The spinal cord is a key component of the central nervous system, which is an intricate web of interconnected neural pathways.
The spinal cord is divided into three sections, just like the rest of the spine. These segments receive sensory input from specific regions of the body. For instance, the nerves in the cervical spine connect to the upper chest and arms, while the nerves in the thoracic spine reach the chest and abdomen. The lumbar spine's nerves extend to the legs, bowel, and bladder. This organisation means that an injury to a particular part of the cord will impact neighbouring parts of the body.
The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae, the individual bones of the spine that form a hollow tube for the spinal cord to pass through. The vertebrae not only protect the spinal cord but also bear the majority of the weight placed on the spine. Tendons attach muscles to the vertebrae, and facet joints link the vertebrae together, providing flexibility and allowing movement.
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The spinal cord is surrounded by intrinsic and extrinsic back muscles
The spinal cord is not a muscle. It is a collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal column, or vertebral column, is made up of bones called vertebrae that protect and support the spinal cord. Tendons fasten muscles to the vertebrae, and facet joints link the vertebrae together, giving them flexibility.
The spinal cord is surrounded by back muscles, which can be categorised as intrinsic （deep) or extrinsic (superficial) muscles. The intrinsic back muscles are considered the true back muscles and are located deep to the extrinsic muscles. They are well-developed and extend from the skull base to the sacrum, fusing with the vertebral column. These muscles help to maintain posture and produce movements of the head, neck and trunk. The extrinsic back muscles, also known as immigrant muscles, are those that have migrated to the back during fetal development. They are the muscles that people usually think of when picturing their back muscles, such as the latissimus dorsi (lats) and the rhomboids. These muscles help with shoulder and neck movements and are involved in respiration.
The intrinsic back muscles can be further divided into four layers: superficial, intermediate, deep and deepest. The superficial and intermediate layers include muscles such as the splenius cervicis and splenius capitis, which assist in movements of the shoulder and neck. The intermediate layer also contains the large erector spinae muscles, which include the longissimus, iliocostalis and spinalis muscles. The deepest layer of intrinsic back muscles lies deep to the thoracolumbar fascia and provides support for the body's posture and movement.
The back muscles work together to allow for a wide range of movements, including bending over, twisting, turning the head and extending the back. They also assist in respiration by expanding and contracting the chest during breathing. These muscles are vulnerable to strains and spasms, which can result in chronic low back pain. Understanding the anatomy of the back muscles is crucial for correct diagnosis and treatment of back pain.
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The intrinsic back muscles are considered the 'true back muscles'
The spinal cord is not a muscle. It is a collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The spinal column, or vertebral column, is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, which support and protect the spinal cord. Tendons fasten muscles to the vertebrae, and the spinal column has joints that give it flexibility.
The intrinsic back muscles, also known as the deep back muscles, are considered the true back muscles. They are located deep to the extrinsic muscles, separated by the thoracolumbar fascia. These muscles are well-developed and extend from the sacrum to the base of the skull. They are associated with the movements of the vertebral column and the control of posture.
The intrinsic back muscles are further subdivided into their own superficial, intermediate, and deep subgroups. The superficial intrinsic muscles are closer to the surface of the skin than the intermediate intrinsic muscles, and the deep intrinsic muscles are underneath all the other groups and subgroups. The nervous supply to the intrinsic back muscles primarily arises from the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves, providing sensation to the skin of the back and the deep muscles of the back.
The intrinsic back muscles include the transversospinalis muscle group, which lies deep to the erector spinae. The transversospinalis muscles run obliquely and medially from the transverse process of the vertebra below to the spinous process, filling the groove on either side of the spinous process. When contracted bilaterally, these muscles assist in bending the back posteriorly, and when unilateral contraction occurs, they assist with lateral bending and rotation.
Core strength training that includes the deep intrinsic back muscles is more effective than typical resistance training for alleviating chronic low back pain.
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Frequently asked questions
The spinal cord is a large collection of nerve tissue that carries messages from your brain to the rest of your body. It is located within the vertebral column (spinal column) and is protected and supported by the vertebrae.
The spinal cord is responsible for transmitting signals to and from the brain that allow you to control your muscles and feel sensations. The spinal cord is surrounded and supported by numerous muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which provide flexibility and a wide range of motion.
Back muscles can be divided into three groups: superficial (extrinsic) back muscles, intermediate back muscles, and intrinsic (deep) back muscles. The superficial muscles are located closest to the surface, under the skin, and help with shoulder and neck movements. The intermediate muscles assist with the movement of the thoracic cage and flexion of the upper vertebral column and head. The intrinsic muscles are considered the true back muscles and are well-developed, extending from the skull base to the sacrum.
