The vertebrae are separated by invertebral disks, which act as shock absorbers for the spine. The disk is composed of two parts. The annulus is strong, concentric rings of cartilage that form the outer layer of the disk. Inside is the nucleus, a jell-like pulp. The nucleus, composed of 88 percent water at birth, dries out naturally as we age.

The vertebrae are smallest in the cervical region and get larger as the spine progresses, with the lumbar vertebrae being the largest. The cervical region is the most flexible part of the spine, while the thoracic area doesn’t have much movement. The lumbar vertebrae bear the brunt of the body’s weight and stress.

Figure 2. Detailed views of a vertebra and segment. The drawing on the left, represents a top view of a vertebra. The drawing on the right is a lateral (side) view of a segment of three vertebrae.

When viewed from the side, the spine forms three natural curves, which keep the body balanced. These curves go inward at the base of the neck and the lower back (lordosis), with the thoracic region forming an outward curve (kyphosis). When viewed from behind, the spine should look perfectly straight.

The individual vertebrae consist of multiple elements. The front is the vertebral body, which is the weight bearing part of the vertebrae. The vertebral body is a thick, disk-shaped flat bone that provides a resting place for the invertebral disk.

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