The spine, or backbone, is a long column of bones that runs down the center of a person’s back. It is essential for many functions, such as movement, support, and protecting the spinal cord. A ...

Bones called vertebrae make up your spine. Muscles and ligaments connect your vertebrae to each other. Between the vertebrae lie soft, flat discs that provide cushioning and support. Each vertebra ...

The spine in the upper back and abdomen is known as the thoracic spine. It is one of the three major sections of the spinal column. The thoracic spine sits between the cervical spine in the neck and ...

What Is the Cervical Spine? Where Is the Cervical Spine Located? A long, flexible column extending through most of your upper body, the spinal column consists of seven bones called vertebrae. The ...

The lumbar vertebrae are the largest movable bones of the backbone. Their large size and bone strength is necessary because these vertebrae support more weight than the upper two segments of the ...

Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion is a surgery to reduce or eliminate chronic pain in the neck and back due to a problem with the discs. Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is an ...

Q: My wife is 77 and has spinal stenosis. She's often in pain. We read about a new procedure called "minimally invasive lumbar decompression," which we are hoping might help. She really wants to avoid ...