The Human Spine - Spinal Cord and Nerve Roots
The human spine exists to carry information between the brain and the body. It does this via the spinal cord. The spinal cord carries nerve impulses from your 'control centre' (your brain), to your limbs and it controls all your bodily functions.
The spinal cord actually ends quite high up in the back - at about the level of the first lumbar vertebra, but it continues in a looser bundle of nereve roots, called the cauda equina, down to the sacrum.
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A very important part of the vertebra's job is to protect the spinal cord; it does this by encircling the cord in a bony canal, the spinal canal (see a diagram of a vertebra ). This means the cord is safely enclosed by the bony protective spine.
There is a space on each side, between each vertebra, that allows a nerve, called a nerve root, to leave the spinal cord.
These nerve roots join together to form single large nerves, including the famous sciatic nerve (unfairly blamed for lots of things) at the back of your leg, and the often forgotten femoral nerve at the front.
The spine is a strong, beautifully designed structure that allows movement whilst at the same time protecting the spinal cord. It is not fragile or vulnerable. Very few people actually have real major problems with the structure of their spines.
More information on the main cause of lower back pain.
Lower Back Pain Toolkit Home Page
