Discover the PARTS of the lower BACK

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The back is considered by many the central axis of our body: allows us to stay in a proper position and protect valuable structures such as the spinal cord. But within this long structure we can differentiate three parts, depending on whether we are in the cervical region, in the thoracic region or the lowest part.

The lower back or lumbar spine has historically been highly studied, as it is a source of pain for many and many of us. In this lesson from a TEACHER we will review the parts of the lower back or lumbar spine and why it sometimes causes us so much pain. If you are interested in this topic, we invite you to continue reading!

Index

1. What is the lower back or lumbar spine?
2. All parts of the lower back or lumbar spine
3. Why does the lumbar spine usually hurt so much?

The lower back is how it is commonly known to the lumbar spine. This part of the back corresponds to that formed by the

This part of the body is not only made up of the vertebrae. Among them are the intervertebral discsRound, spongy cartilage pads that protect vertebrae from wear and tear, especially while moving. Also in that area we find ligaments. Ligaments are bands of thick tissue that are responsible for keeping the vertebrae in place while helping to insert the muscles in this area.

Due to its position and function, the lower back is highly innervated, that is, has many nerves. In this area we can find 31 pairs of nerves, which are connected directly to the spinal cord. These nerves have the function of controlling body movements and transmit signals from the body (especially from the lower part) to the brain. These pairs of nerves are only motor nerves, but there are also a large number of diffuse nerves, Responsible for involuntary nerve signals such as the transport of pain signals or reflexes involuntary.

For study, especially in medicine, the spinal column is divided into areas called intervertebral segment or spinal segment. These segments are made up of two adjacent lumbar vertebrae and the intervertebral disc that lies between them. These intervertebral segments are named after the two vertebrae separated by a dash.

For example, an injury to the upper lower back or lumbar spine would be, in medical terms, in the intervertebral segment L1-L2 and could have occurred both in the first vertebra and in the second lumbar vertebra, but also in the interverbral disc that separates them or in the part that connects them with the rest of the vertebrae. This part of the union between vertebrae is called veneer.

Attached to the lower back we find numerous muscles, which can also be a criteria when classifying some lower back injuries. Some of the most important are the following:

• Serratus minor. This muscle is made up of two parts: posterior and inferior. It originates from the union of the last two thoracic vertebrae and the first two lumbar vertebrae and is divided into three or four extensions that insert into three or four last ribs. This muscle plays an important role during expiration.
• External oblique muscle of the abdomen. This large muscle is responsible for repressing the ribs, the obliques flex the trunk and depress the abdominal wall. Although they are located in the lower back region, they do not insert directly with the vertebrae in this region.
• Internal oblique muscle of the abdomen. Unlike the previous one, this muscle, in addition to being in the lower back region, does insert into the lumbar vertebrae. It is inserted, below, in the femoral arch, superior iliac spine and, through aponeurosis, in the spinous processes of the last lumbar and first sacral. This muscle is important during expiration but it is also an important flexor and rotator of the thorax.
• Psoas. The psoas is a muscle that is related to the last dorsal vertebra and the lumbar vertebrae, with the iliac bone and the lower limbs. It has an important role in maintaining good body posture and is related to other important structures such as the diaphragm.
• The quadratus lumbar. The quadratus lumbar muscle is a large, flat, even muscle that extends from the last rib up to the iliac crest, along the sides of the lumbar vertebrae, towards which it extends numerous fibers. Each of the lumbar squares is responsible for the inflection of the lumbar spine on its side but also, to bilateral level, the set of the two lumbar squares are responsible for extending the lumbar spine in the expiration.

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As we have already mentioned, the lower back is responsible for support much of the weight of our upper body. For this, this part is composed of large vertebrae, to which strong muscles are inserted that we allow the weight to be supported but also to flex and extend the area, giving mobility to the whole of the Body. This is why the area of ​​the spine in its most lumbar part is a great source of pain, which It is usually quite annoying, recurrent and usually affects many people of different ages and styles of lifetime.

The pain related to the part of the lumbar spine is usually caused, for the most part, by the weight that this part supports. The lower part of the back, like the rest of our body, suffers normal wear and tear throughout our lives, due to aging and the continuous and repetitive use of the body. Specifically, in the lumbar part of the spine there is generalized deterioration of the joints, discs and vertebrae. This deterioration normally generates the following pathologies:

• Muscle sprains and strains. They are usually characterized by acute pain, with temporary episodes that are more or less lasting. They are produced by excessive stretching of the tendons and muscles, respectively.
• Intervertebral disc degeneration. Intervertebral disc degeneration occurs when the discs between each pair of vertebrae become more rigid, and therefore more incapable of damping the friction that occurs when the vertebrae move relative to each other. other
• Intervertebral disc ruptures or hernias. The intervertebral discs can be compressed too much or come out of the correct place that corresponds to them, causing ruptures in the first case and hernias (herniated disc) in the second. In both cases the person usually suffers from intense pain that does not go away, if not chronic.
• Sciatica. Sciatica is caused by compression of the sciatic nerve, a large nerve that passes through the buttocks and runs down the back of the leg. This compression causes burning or shock-like low back pain combined with pain in the buttocks and down the leg, occasionally reaching the foot.

Other diseases can predispose to the appearance of low back pain. Some examples are inflammatory joint diseases, osteoporosis, endometriosis, or fibromyalgia. In these cases, lumbar discomfort should be treated as a symptom since, despite treating them, they will reappear if the diseases that cause them are not controlled.

If you want to read more articles similar to Parts of the lower back, we recommend that you enter our category of biology.

• Eben Davis, DC (December 8, 2014). Lumbar spine pain and anatomy. Recovered from https://www.spine-health.com/espanol/anatomia-de-la-columna-vertebral/dolor-y-anatomia-de-la-columna-lumbar
• NINDS (December 21, 2016). Lumbar pain Recovered from https://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/dolor_lumbar.htm