Lumbar Spine Anatomy and Function. Story by Anne Asher, CPT • 20y. Medically reviewed by Jennifer Steinhoff, MD. The lumbar spine includes the five vertebrae in your lower back numbered L1 to L5.

Spinal Cord Anatomy The spinal cord is a vital part of the central nervous system, along with your brain. It’s around 50 centimeters long, though the length may vary in different individuals.

The spine, or backbone, is a long column of bones that runs down the center of a person’s back. It is essential for many functions, such as movement, support, and protecting the spinal cord.

An Overview of Functional Anatomy Posteriorly, the bony arch encircles the spinal canal (Fig 1). It is composed of transverse processes, facet joints, two pedicles, two laminae, and a spinous process.

Spinal ligaments in the embryonic chick are homologous to those in the human spine. Credit: Journal of Anatomy (2025). DOI: 10.1111/joa.70006 ...

Panelists discuss how spinal muscular atrophy is an autosomal recessive genetic disease affecting motor neurons with 3 ...

Axial MRI of the Lumbar Spine - T2 weighted image at the L4 level. On this view centered over the L4-L5 disk, one can see well the cauda equina surrounded by CSF (note that CSF is bright on ...

While wrong-site spinal surgeries are rare, the ramifications of a mistake can be devastating for patients, providers and health systems. Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic is taking systemwide action ...

Spinal Anatomy 101 . Stretching from the bottom of the brain and ending in the lower back, the spinal cord is a long, tube-like band of tightly bundled cells, nerve fibers, and blood vessels. Each of ...

Lumbar Spinal Stenosis Lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) is any narrowing in the lumbar spinal canal or lateral recess. It can be developmental, congenital, or acquired.