Spine

The vertebral column as seen from the side

The spine is a column of vertebrae 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. Many vertebrates, including mammals, have intervertebral discs separating the vertebrae.

Inside the spinal canal is the spinal cord. Animals that have a spine are called vertebrates, and animals that do not have one are called invertebrates. Humans have a spine so they are vertebrates. Problems with the spine often cause back pain in humans. Back pain has been studied on animals such as dogs.

Regions

The vertebral column has five regions. These regions from top to bottom are:

Spinal canal

The spinal column has an opening called spinal canal and this opening is used for nerves. The part of the central nervous system in the spinal column is called spinal cord.

Images

A typical thoracic vertebra viewed from above. The unlabeled hole in the middle will form the Spinal canal
An 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) .

Other websites

Media related to Vertebral column at Wikimedia Commons