What Are The Discs Of The Back

There are a number of discs separating the vertebrae of the spine. Each one is a cartilagenous buffer that allows slight movement of the vertebrae and acts as a ligament that holds them together.

The backbone consists of seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, five sacral (which are usually welded) and the coccyx.

These vertebrae are articulated with each other through the veneer joints and intervertebral discs basically a soft sponge between the hard back bones.

The intervertebral disc is a structure located between two adjacent vertebrae at both cervical and thoracic and lumbar levels.

It consists of two parts. A gelatinous centre called the nucleus pulposus, surrounded by a fibrous structure called “fibrous ring.”

Its function is to cushion the load and stabilize the motion between two vertebrae.

When the disc is young, has a wet look. This moisture will disappear (dehydration of the body) with the passage of age, which limits the protective capacity of the disc and is a degeneration of disc.

In this way, the protective capacity of the disks is limited by its rigidity and impact can not be absorbed at the same rate, which accelerates the wear and tear of the vertebrae.

With repeated stress fibres can degenerate and tear on the disk, warp or break the fibrous ring and release the core pulpuso. Andalusia released the kernel, it puts pressure on the discs and nerve damage causing pain and sometimes can affect the legs. Because the lumbar area suffers wear from movement, these problems usually arise in the fourth or fifth lumbar or sacral bone at the start.

The pain is usually felt more acutely when we bend or turn, so the pain is more intense if you sit or stand upright for long periods. How to detect this problem through medical history and examination is difficult and to suffer back pain in the lower back is at best, very uncomfortable, and it can also produce leg pain and numbness. When a herniated disc affects the legs, the problem is known as sciatica