Energy, posture and mobility- My knowledge.

In this post I will inform you about everything I have perceived and know about the spine. Due to me previously studying Sports Studies & Science, I have learnt a lot about the mechanics of the body. In this chapter I will tell you mainly about the spine and the functions and uses it has.

Bone.
Bones develop over time. When you are a minor, your bones are soft and generally break easily due to being made of cartilage or 'part' cartilage which is spongy and flexible. When you are young you have around 300 bones which are not formed. These fuse together into 206 bones when you are growing as the cartilage forms to bone itself with the help of calcium. Your bones generally stop growing when you are around the age of 25 and they remain strong.

When moving the bones, joint cartilage can cause two types of stress; gravitational and friction from the movement itself. The cartilage has to therefore be strong and resistant so that movement is easy and there is no prevention caused. Cartilage acts as a shock absorber for harsh movements so that the bones don't rub against each other.

The Cranium.
This is made up of 22 bones, cranial and facial. This is one of the heaviest points in the body when relaxed and is also one of the most fragile, so it needs to be controlled by surrounding muscles from the head. The Cranium covers an important organ (brain) so this needs to be strong to act as protection as this generally controls the body's movement. http://www.kittyprint.com/KTP/Images/Anatomy/Cranium1.jpg

The Atlas and Axis.
These two bones are based below the head and in the top of the neck. The Atlas slots on top of the Axis and is slightly smaller due to not beginning the start of the spine (Bifid spine) and has no disks inbetween. These bones are therefore the start of the rotation in the neck leading to the Cervical Vertebra.

Cervical Vertebrae.
The Atlas and Axis are included in the Cervical spine as C1 and C2. This consists of 7 small bones at the top of the neck which are supported by muscles and ligaments. This helps to perform movements such as a 'nod', 'shake of the head' and 'sideward' movements. C3-C6 are generally similar and lead the same shape bone, whereas C7 stands out from the rest as it includes 'vertebra prominens' which is a "bobble" at the end of the bone and is slightly larger.

Thoracic Vertebrae.
There are 12 bones included in this section of the spinal column. This creates an elongated look on the back and helps to create a slight curve in the middle of the spine. Attached to this is the rib-cage, which protects the organs in the top half of the body. Each rib forms a synovial joint; a freely moveable joint that contains fluid between the joints and other surfaces.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a5/Gray91.png/300px-Gray91.png



Lumbar Vertebrae.
These 5 bones are located at the bottom of the spine. These are slightly thicker bones that attach a number of muscles and ligaments to help movement of flexion and extension. There are various planes of movement that can occur at all sections of the spinal column. At the Lumbar section, the facets are very sagital based and restrict rotation more that the cervical and thoracic vertebrae. L4-5 joints have the greatest amount of movement of all planes. 

Sacrum.
There are 5 fused vertebrae that are included in the sacrum and these are said to fuse around the age of 20-25 after puberty has finished. The sacrum is there to protect the reproductive organs and digestive systems/organs and is held between the axis and pelvic girdle to show the appendicular skeleton. S1 is in partnership with L5 and work accordingly together.The disks that are inbetween the bones in the vertebrae act as a cushion, whereas in the sacrum they turn into bone (around the age of 20) and this causes the 'fuse' in this area. There are two types of Sacral crests amongst the sacrum; this being the Median and Lateral. The median is small ridges or knots that form due to the fusing process and the lateral is the space on either side of the ridge, this has a larger surface area for muscles to attach.The sacrum attaches to the pelvic girdle (Ilium) to form a sacroiliac joint which helps to encourage weight bearing for the femur (thigh bone), provided by the auricular surface.


Coccyx.
Involved in this section are 3-5 (usually four) tiny bones that are partly fused from the age of 26. Co1 and Co2 have transverse processes and are only attached on one side. In older people, the coccyx can occasionally fuse with the sacrum due to lack of movement. The Coccyx can be removed as it isn't essential to have it.

"Breathe in to the tip of the spine,

Let the breath fill the inside of the head,

Softening the bones of the skull,

Behind the eyes, inside the jaw.

The head round and soft,

Imagine the whole head,

Malleable to the breath,

The roundness of the head is echoed,

In the roundness of the ribcage,

Of the pelvis, of the heels,

Of the roof of the mouth.

Still opening at the base of the skull,

Where the brain elongates,

And flows down,

To the sacrum.

The sacrum moves down,

As the back of the head fills,

And moves up.

The head listens,

To the body,

Through the spine."

Tufnell.M & Crickmay. C (1993) Body Space Image. (pg 5). Dance Books Ltd, Hampshire.