The body’s main axis
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Supports the head
Protects the spinal cord
Site of attachment for limbs and muscles
Consists of a column of 33 irregular bones
called vertebrae
Curved when viewed from the side
◦ Differences in structure and size by region
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5 anatomical regions
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Cervical (neck) – 7 vertebrae
Thoracic (chest) – 12
Lumbar (lower, “small” of the back) – 5
Sacral (sacrum/upper pelvic) – 5 fused
Coccogeal (tailbone) – 4 fused (vestigial tail)
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Strong impact can compress an intervertebral
disc forcing the soft center to balloon
outward, press on spinal nerves causing
severe pain = herniated or slipped disc
Occurs most often in lumbar vertebrae
Can rupture releasing pulpy contents
Surgery can relieve pain/pressure against the
nerve – disc must be fused w/ adjacent
vertebrae and limits flexibility
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Repetitive motions – carpel tunnel syndrome
Connective tissue sheath holds the carpel
bones of the wrist together
Carpel tunnel delivers blood vessels, nerves
and tendons to the carpel bones
Overuse causes swelling and inflammation of
the tendons causing them to press against
the nerve supplying the hand  numbness of
wrist and hand
Mild cases = pain relievers, severe = surgery
to relieve pressure
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Imbalance of the activities of osteoclasts and
osteoblasts
Caused by inactivity & poor diet
Hunched posture
Post menopausal women at higher risk due to
decreased estrogen
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General term for joint inflammation
Most common – osteoarthritis – degenerative
wear and tear – 20 million Americans >45
Bony spurs form as cartilage wears away and
bones thicken
Increased friction causes painful
inflammation
OTC meds can help, surgical joint
replacement in severe cases; injections of
hyaluric acid (a component of hyaline
cartilage) can reduce knee pain temporarily
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Also causes joint inflammation but it is
caused by the body’s own immune system
(autoimmune disorder) which mistakenly
attacks the joint tissues