The spine’s anatomy may be complex, but it contains a sophisticated system of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Think of the spine like the internet in which the nerves provide the connections. They flow everywhere from the tips of the toes up to the brain. The nerves also branch out on the sides of…
The cervical spine refers to the neck region of the spine that supports the body. In a relaxed position, the typical cervical spine has a “C” shaped curve called lordosis. The opening of the curve goes toward the back of the neck. Kyphosis is the opposite of lordosis. Cervical means relating to the neck. While…
Also known as tic douloureux, trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic condition affecting the trigeminal nerve. The nerve provides sensations in the face including the forehead, eyes, mouth, sinus cavities, and jaw. The condition occurs when a blood vessel compresses on the nerve. It causes pain during face-related activities such as teeth brushing, face washing, eating…
Cervical refers to the neck while myelopathy is a disorder of the spinal cord. Thus, cervical myelopathy is a spinal cord compression in the neck. Here’s an overview of the spine to explain what happens with cervical myelopathy. The spine contains major nerves that run from the brain to the arms, legs, fingers, and toes.…
The anatomy of the spine is an amazing and complex thing. That’s because it contains bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. It’s like the internet inside the spine as the nerves flow from the brain on down through the spine down and ends at the tips of the toes. They also branch out on the…
To understand cervical radiculopathy, it helps to be familiar with the anatomy of the spine. The spine consists of bones, nerves, muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It houses major nerves that run from the brain to the arms, legs, fingers, and toes. The vertebrae are the bones that make up the building blocks of the spine.…
Before delving into vertebral compression fracture, it helps to understand the spine’s structure. The spine consists of bones, nerves, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. The bones are called vertebrae. They make up the building blocks of the spine. The lower back contains five lumbar vertebrae, the upper back has 12 thoracic vertebrae, and the neck has…
Considering the spinal column provides the main support structure for the body, it is under a lot of pressure to do its job well. Moreover, the spine protects the nerves inside its spinal canal. These nerves travel through the spine and branch off on the sides. And when any one part of the spine runs…
Before digging into spinal stenosis, here’s a quick overview of the back’s anatomy. The back is filled with many moving parts. The spine itself contains a variety of components to support a person’s standing, bending, and twisting. It also protects the spinal cord. Inside the spine are nerves that branch off the spinal cord. What…
The back and neck have so many components. And when either hurts, it takes a medical detective to figure out the source. One possibility of back pain or discomfort is osteoarthritis of the spine. It’s a quite common form of arthritis that affects the back. What Is Spinal Osteoarthritis? Osteoarthritis (OA), also known as degenerative…