How Your Back Works

A healthy back allows you to bend and stretch without pain. The spine has three natural curves, which keep your body balanced. Strong, flexible muscles support your spine. Soft, cushioning disks separate the hard bones of your spine, allowing it to bend and move.

The Parts of the Spine

• The vertebrae are the 24 bones that make up the spine.

• The spinous process is the part of each vertebra you can feel through your skin.

• Each of these bones has a canal that runs top to bottom. Together these canals form a tunnel called the spinal canal.

• The lamina of each vertebra forms the back of the spinal canal.

• Running through the canal are nerves.

• A foramen is a small opening where a nerve leaves the spinal canal.

• Disks serve as cushions between vertebrae. A disk's soft center absorbs shock during movement.

The Supporting Muscles

Strong, flexible muscles help maintain your three natural curves. They hold your spine in proper alignment. This helps support your upper body. Strong stomach, buttock, and thigh muscles help take the strain off your back.