The Spine
The SPINE (backbone) starts below the waist and ends at your head. Along
with the muscles in your back, it allows you to stand upright. The spine
is actually made up of 33 small bones, called VERTEBRAE, with a
cord inside called the spinal cord. The SPINAL CORD is a bundle
of nerves that takes messages from the brain to the body. For example,
those messages tell your hands to move or your feet to walk when your
brain wants them to. Any serious injury to the spine, particularly to
the neck area (CERVICAL SPINE), can cause a permanent
interruption in the messages from the brain to the body. You may no
longer be able to move your arms or legs for instance. This is what is
known as being "PARALYZED". For this reason, it is very important
to avoid injuring the spine.
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Skull
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Cervical Nerves
to Diaphragm
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Cervical
vertebrae
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Spinal
cord
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Thoracic
vertebrae
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Nerve
roots
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Lumbar
vertebrae
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Sacrum
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Coccyx
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Avoiding Spinal Injuries