Active System
If it was not for the muscles, your backbone could only carry 5 pounds. Since I have never seen a five pound adult before, we need to talk about these active parts—the muscles. Go ahead, look at your biceps (Popeye or Olive Oil?). The biceps are big muscles, but there are bigger ones that cover the entire length of the spine. Better yet, go to your local butcher and ask to see the back straps. Then you will know what I mean by big. These huge, global muscles create large movements like bending. But, these muscles are not very good at supporting the spine. So, small, local muscles which lie close to the bones, discs, and ligaments help to stabilize the backbone. Both the global muscles and local muscles are actively supporting you right now.
Control System
What if you want to move? Instructions for movement are sent through the nerves which are the information superhighway of your body. How does that work? Visualize this: your butt is getting sore from sitting…BAM! Your brain just created a signal which flashed down the spinal cord to the back, butt, and leg muscles… They are told to “Move it!” With a slight shift, your butt is feeling better. Without the nerves, none of the movement is possible. Humans really are “just a bundle of nerves” and those nerves control everything.
Now you know about the parts in the spine that have either one of these basic jobs: passive support, active movement, or control messenger. Best of all, you did not have to spend hours in a smelly, cold anatomy lab. Yuck! The spine is critical for providing support for your entire body: your head, your legs, your arms, and your guts. So, you’d better take care of your backbone and knowing these parts will help you navigate on the road to spine health.
