Spinal Anatomy

Part of our mission at Morgan Chiropractic in Anchorage is to educate the public about how they can prevent and treat back problems. When people understand how their backs are structured, they can better understand various problems and communicate more easily with doctors.


The backbone is not really a bone at all but is a structure made up of thirty-four bones linked together and a number of spongy discs. The bones of the back are called vertebrae, of which twenty-four move separately from each other. Among those, all but the top two are separated by discs. The seven top vertebrae are the neck bones and they are called “cervical vertebrae.” The twelve middle vertebrae connect to the ribs and are called “thoracic vertebrae.” The lower back is made up of the five “lumbar vertebrae,” which are the largest. There are two structures below the lumbar vertebrae which are made up of vertebrae fused together without intervening discs: the sacrum and the coccyx. The vertebrae have facet joints by which they connect to each other, which allow them to bend, and a hollow protrusion which forms the canal through which the spinal cord travels.


The discs are crucial shock absorbers and when they are injured, the surrounding areas can become inflamed and put more pressure on the vertebrae and attached nerves. Chiropractic adjustments are meant to ensure that the vertebrae and discs aren’t causing any problems for each other or the surrounding body parts.


Dr. Loren Morgan operates Morgan Chiropractic at 11260 Old Seward Hwy Suite 106, Anchorage, Alaska, 99515. To schedule an appointment, visit Morgan Chiropractic or call 907-646-2211,


 

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