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The segmented bony spine.
Spinal cord Nerve roots Ligaments Muscles
The vertebral canal is like a tunnel that runs from the opening in the base of the skull, all the way down to the tail bone. Inside this tunnel travels the spinal cord.
The spinal cord is central nervous (like brain) tissue.
The front wall of the vertebral canal is the backside of the vertebral bodies and the intervertebral discs. The bodies provide most of the support and stability of the spine.
The pedicles join the veretabral bodies to the facet joints. Pedicle screws are used to stabilize the spine during fusion.
The lamina are the bones that are the posterior (back) wall of the vertebral canal.
The facets are the joints formed by a superior and inferior articulating surface.
The neural foramina are holes on both sides of the vertebral column that allow passage of spinal nerve roots.
Nerve roots travel through the neural foramen on their way from their origin in the spinal canal (from the spinal cord) on their way to the extremities, trunk, abdomen, etc.
The pars interarticularis is the portion of the vertebral body between an inferior and superior articulating facet. Fracture (break) in the pars interarticularis can cause the spine to become unstable with resultant spondylolisthesis.
Ligaments Muscles
Spine surgery specialty center
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