The main functions of the spine include supporting the body, protecting the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots, providing attachment points for internal organs, and ensuring the flexibility and stability of the body. Understanding the structure and function of the spine and taking appropriate health care measures are essential to prevent spinal diseases and maintain good health.
Understand the structure of the spine
The spine is located in the center of the body's back and is made up of vertebrae that are connected by discs, ligaments and joints. The spine can be divided into five parts: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and caudal vertebrae. There are four natural curvatures of the spine, namely cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, and sacral kyphosis. These bends help the spine better distribute pressure when subjected to gravity, reduce muscle tension, and provide cushioning space for the spinal cord to protect the spinal cord and nerve roots from injury.
The function of the "second lifeline".
The spine is the main component of the human body structure, known as the "second lifeline" of the human body, and is the pillar and pillar of the human body. The spine has important functions such as support, protection, and movement.
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Support function
The spine is one of the main structures that support the body. It is able to withstand the weight and pressure of the body, enabling the person to walk upright. The cervical part of the spine is responsible for supporting the head and connecting the head to the body, allowing it to remain stable in a variety of activities. The thoracic vertebrae connect to the ribs and provide support for the rib cage and the heart and lungs within it. The lumbar spine bears the weight of the upper body and provides support and protection for the abdomen. The sacral and caudal vertebrae are connected to the pelvis and work together to support the lower body and maintain the stability of the body.
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Protection features
The spine plays an important role in protecting the structure of the body and controls all the daily activities of a person. The spinal cord and 31 pairs of spinal nerves are responsible for transmitting signals from the brain to all parts of the body, which is of great significance to the human body. The protective effect of the spine is mainly to reduce the possible damage to the spinal cord and spinal nerves. However, when a lesion occurs in the spine, it can irritate or compress the spinal cord or spinal nerves, causing symptoms such as pain, numbness, weakness and even paralysis.
The four physiological curvatures of the spine also have important protective functions. In human walking, running, jumping and other activities, the physiological curvature of the spine can play a shock-absorbing role, reducing the impact and concussion of the brain and internal organs of the body. The curvature of the spine also helps balance the distribution of body weight across the vertebrae, joints, and muscles, reducing pressure on individual vertebrae and joints.
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Motor function
In addition to supporting and protecting, the spine also has flexible motor functions. Although the range of motion between adjacent vertebrae is limited, the range of motion between the vertebrae is large overall, allowing for a large range of motion throughout the spine. The movement of the spine includes flexion, extension, lateral flexion, rotation and circumference.
In addition to assisting in walking, running, jumping and other actions in daily life, the spine can also participate in complex sports, such as swimming and boxing. The motor segments of the spine are mainly concentrated in the cervical and lumbar spine. When a person completes the actions of bowing his head, raising his head, and turning his head, he needs the full participation of the cervical spine. Actions such as standing, sitting, bending, and turning also require the full participation of the lumbar spine.
Effects of spinal injury
Whether it is an acute spinal injury such as a spinal fracture or a chronic spinal injury such as cervical spondylosis, lumbar disc herniation, etc., it can have a lot of impact on an individual's life, depending on the location and extent of the damage.
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Pain and discomfort
Injuries to the spine can cause pain and discomfort, especially near the damaged area. This pain and discomfort may interfere with daily activities such as sleep, work, and exercise.
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Movement disorders
Spinal injuries may cause patients to experience varying degrees of impaired motor function, such as muscle weakness, muscle atrophy, and motor incoordination. In severe cases, it may also affect the function of respiratory muscles, leading to problems such as dyspnea and respiratory failure.
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Neurological dysfunction
Damage to the spine may lead to neurological dysfunction such as paresthesia, numbness and pain, abnormal bowel and bowel movements, and even paralysis, and may also affect the autonomic nervous system, leading to autonomic dysfunction, problems such as perspiration disorders, abnormal heart rate, and unstable blood pressure.
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Decreased quality of life
People with spinal injuries are bedridden for long periods of time, have a significantly reduced quality of life, and are at increased risk of developing skin infections and ulcers.
The spine is very important to the human body, so in daily life, we must pay attention to protecting the spine, maintain a good posture, sit up and straighten the body, pay attention to the chest and abdomen when standing, raise the head and chest when walking, avoid hunchback, swing the arms naturally, and avoid scoliosis. Patients with spinal injury should receive timely treatment and rehabilitation training to recover their health and improve their quality of life as soon as possible.