While the human body as a whole is fascinating, have you ever thought of how amazing your spine is? It supports your body weight, provides flexibility, and protects your spinal cord.
Our Vertebrae
When we’re born, our spines consist of 33 individual vertebrae. As we age, some of those vertebrae begin to fuse together. For example, humans aren’t born with a tailbone. The tailbone is created when your coccygeal vertebrae fuse together to form one bone.
By the time we’re adults, we have the following vertebrae:
- 12 thoracic vertebrae
- 7 cervical vertebrae
- 5 lumbar vertebrae
And if you aren’t already amazed by your vertebrae, we have a fun fact that may change your mind. Humans have the same number of vertebrae in their necks as giraffes.
All of the Muscles, Ligaments, and Joints
Your spine contains hundreds of muscles, ligaments, and joints to provide you with support and flexibility. Did you know that your ligaments are what stabilizes the spinal column? They do so by keeping the vertebrae interconnected.
Your spine has:
- Over 120 muscles
- 220 individual ligaments
- Over 100 joints
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The Cartilage
Cartilage is often overlooked, but it’s a major part of your spine’s anatomy. In fact, over ¼ of the spine’s length is cartilage. You may be asking yourself what exactly cartilage is. It’s a spongy substance that separates the vertebral discs.
Here’s another fun fact for you. Has someone you know ever complained of getting shorter as they age? This is likely due to cartilage. Since cartilage can expand and contract, the constant pull of gravity on your body can result in shrinkage.
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As you can see, the spine truly is an intriguing part of your body. If you would like to continue to learn more about your spine, please like us on Facebook and subscribe to our monthly email newsletter below.
