A traumatic injury to the spine can cause a bruise, a partial tear, or a complete tear in the spinal cord. The most common sites of injury are the cervical and thoracic areas.

The human spine is a complex anatomic structure that is the scaffolding for the entire body. It provides several important functions, including protection the spinal cord and nerves, and structural support for the body, allowing us to ...

While hip and knee joint replacement surgery or arthroplasty has grown increasingly common since its advent in the early 1960s with a high degree of patient satisfaction, spine arthroplasty (or artificial disc replacement) has not been a...

Soft tissues around the spine also play a key role in the health of the back. A large, complex group of muscles work together to support the trunk and hold the body upright. They also allows the trunk to move, twist and bend in multiple ...

The cervical spine refers to the seven spinal bones (vertebrae) in the neck. It supports the head and connects to the thoracic spine.

The normal spine has an S-shaped curve when viewed from the side. This shape allows for an even distribution of weight and flexibility of movement. The spine curves in the following ways: The cervical spine curves slightly inward, ...

Everyone has experienced low back pain at one time or another. Most people can recover from low back pain with home treatment, such as changes in activity, weight loss, quitting smoking, and other steps. Sometimes medicine or surgery is ...

The lumbar spine is the lower back. It is made up of five or six vertebrae, depending on the individual. (The extra bone does not make a difference to one's health.) The vertebrae in the lumbar spine area are the largest of the entire ...

A lumbar strain is an injury to the lower back. This results in damaged tendons and muscles that spasm and feel sore.

Many spine conditions once requiring major surgery may now be relieved with minimally invasive techniques at the Cedars-Sinai Spine Center.

The sacrum is the triangular bone just below the lumbar vertebrae. The sacrum has five segments fused together into one large bone.

The spinal cord originates in the brain, exiting through a hole at the skull base called the foramen magnum and coursing through the spinal canal of the cervical, thoracic and upper lumbar spine before ending most commonly between the ...

Spinal cord compression can occur anywhere along your spine. Symptoms include numbness, pain, and weakness.

Changes in bone metabolism may be a sign of several disorders. A bone scan is a nuclear medicine procedure that creates a picture of the metabolism of the bones.

A nerve conduction study is usually done along with electromyography. The nerve conduction study stimulates specific nerves and records their ability to send the impulse to the muscle. The study can show where there is a blockage of the ...

Somatosensory evoked potentials evaluate the nerve pathway from the arms and legs through the spinal cord to the brain.

The adult spine is made up of approximately 24 bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of each other from the bottom of the skull to the pelvis. Each vertebra is composed of several parts that act as a whole to surround and protect the spinal ...

Whiplash means your neck was bent forcibly forward and then backward, or vice versa.

Back and neck pain can interfere with your ability to function. Overuse, overweight, and other problems can cause back and neck pain.

Bone spurs are smooth, bony growths that form over a long period of time. They are a growth of normal bone that tends to occur as we age. The spurs themselves are not painful. Their effect on nearby structures, such as nerves and the ...

Degenerative disc disease isn't actually a disease, but rather a condition in which a damaged disc causes pain. This pain can range from nagging to disabling. The condition can be caused by the drying out of the disc over time, daily ...

Lumbar disk disease occurs when the spongy disks between the vertebrae bulge out or rupture.

Your neck is at risk for injury because of its location and range-of-motion. Neck pain can be caused by injury, age, or inflammatory disorders.

A compression fracture is a type of break in the bones in your back that stack up to form your spine. A compression fracture can cause back pain, limited movement, a decrease in height, and a stopped over posture. It often develops as a ...

Radiculopathy, commonly called pinched nerve, often occurs in the lower back.

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal in your lower back that may cause pain or numbness in your legs.

The spine normally curves at the neck, the torso and the lower back area. When the spine curves too far inward, the condition is called lordosis or swayback. Lordosis can cause pain that sometimes affects the ability to move. It is ...

The vertebrae in your spine are cushioned by soft disks. When one of the disks in your neck—the cervical area of your spine—ruptures, the result can be neck pain. Watch this video to find out the possible causes and recommended treatment.

Most vertebrae are separated by flexible disks of cartilage that act like shock absorbers and allow your spine to move. With age, your disks can lose their height and ability to cushion. This process is called disk degeneration. This ...

Follow the steps in this video when you need to get out of bed if you have back pain.