Anatomy of the Lower Back

Step one to understanding low back pain is admiring the ordinary layout (anatomy) of the cells of this area of your body.

The bony lumbar spine is designed so that vertebrae "stacked" together can provide a movable support structure while also protecting the spinal-cord from harm. The spinal cord is composed of nervous tissue that extends down the spinal column from the mind. Each vertebra has a spinous process, a bony prominence behind the spinal-cord, that guards the cord's nervous cells from influence trauma. Vertebrae also have a strong bony "body" (vertebral body) before the spinal cord to provide a stage appropriate for weight bearing of all tissues over the buttocks. The lumbar vertebrae collection instantly atop the sacrum bone which is situated between the buttocks.

The nerves that supply sensation and stimulate the muscles of the low-back plus the lower extremities (the legs, legs, feet, and feet) all exit the lumbar backbone through bony portals, every one of which is known as a "foramen."

Many muscle groups that are responsible for flexing, extending, and rotating the waistline, together with relocating the lower extremities, attach to the lumbar spine through tendon insertions.

The ovaries and uterus are important pelvic structures before the pelvic region of women. The prostate gland is a critical pelvic structure in males. The kidneys are on both sides of the back of the lower abdomen, in front of the lumbar spine.

The disks are pads that function as "pillows" between your person vertebral bodies. They help reduce the impact of stress forces in the spinal column. Each disc is designed to be a jelly donut with a surrounding, firm outer ring (annulus fibrosus) and a fundamental, softer component (nucleus pulposus). The main portion of the disk is really capable of breaking (herniating as in a herniated disk) through the outer ring, causing irritation of next nervous tissue and sciatica as described below. Ligaments are strong fibrous soft tissues that securely connect bones to bones. Ligaments attach all the vertebrae to one another and surround each one of the discs.

The aorta and blood vessels that carry blood to and from your lower extremities pass before the lumbar spine within the abdomen and pelvis. Surrounding these blood vessels are lymph nodes (lymph glands) and tissues of the automatic nervous system that are important in preserving bladder and bowel control.