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The Perfect Mechanism
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The Perfect Mechanism
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The Skull and
the Spinal Column
The most complex parts of the human skeleton are the skull
and the spinal column.
One of the major functions of the skull is to protect the brain.
Therefore, most of the skull bones are connected by sutures, which is
a rigid joint type. The spine is attached to the bottom of the skull;
together they form the axial skeleton of the human body.
The spinal column houses and protects the spinal cord
and provides firm support for the trunk.
Atlas
The superior (first) cervical vertebra,
it supports the skull. The atlanto-occipital joint allows the head to nod up and down.
Axis
The second cervical vertebra (C2) of
the spine. Its odontoid process forms
a pivot upon which the atlas rotates
and thereby allows the rotation of the head.
Vertebral body
The body is the larger part of the vertebra and it bears the most load. It has a sponge-like internal structure covered by compact bone.
Vertebral foramen
The opening formed by the anterior segment vertebral
body and the vertebral arch.
The spinal canal, the tunnel formed by the foramina in all
the vertebrae, houses
the spinal cord.
Spinous process
It is formed by the fusion of the vertebral arches; it points backwards and downwards.
Articular processes
These processes serve the purpose
of fitting with an adjacent vertebra.
1
2
Thoracic vertebra
Skull
It is located above the spinal column. It has two parts: the facial skeleton (1) and the neurocranium (2).
Cervical vertebrae
Thoracic vertebrae
Lumbar vertebrae
Sacral vertebrae
Spinal column
The human spinal column consists of 33–35 vertebrae: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 4–6, usually fused coccygeal vertebrae. These are joined by intervertebral discs, joints and ligaments.
A healthy spine is straight when viewed from behind and has an S-shaped curve when viewed from the side. It develops by the time children reach 8 or 10 years of age.
Bad posture and a lack of exercise may lead to medical conditions that provoke a change in the curvature of the spine. Initially, the change may not cause damage to the vertebrae, but in the long term, this may also occur. If left untreated, improper posture and the weakening of the dorsal muscles may result in scoliosis.
Curvature of the spinal column
