The spine is made up of a column of individual bones that are shaped like cubes or blocks, one on top of another. Normally on a side x-ray view of the spine each of the bones are perfectly aligned with each other.

Each individual bone of the spine (vertebra) is stacked one on top of another to make a supportive spinal column for the body.  The column starts just above the buttocks and extends up to the skull of your head.

We give numbers to each bone of the spine so that we can communicate effectively about where problems are present. The rib attachment to the bones in your chest limit spinal motion in the thoracic area, so these spinal levels rarely wear out and become degenerative unlike the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back). Between each bone in the spine there exists a cartilaginous (soft tissue gristle) disc. The soft disc is a shock absorber for the spine and also allows motion between the separate bones of the spine so that the spine can be flexible. Some spines are more flexible than others.

The bones of the spine connect at the disc and also in the back (posterior) portion at a joint called the facets.

Each spinal bone (vertebra) has a front (anterior) part, a middle part that connects to the back (pedicle) and a back part (posterior elements). The middle and back parts form a tube. Each spinal bone has a small portion that is shaped like a tube or cylinder. It is within this tubular portion of the bone that the spinal cord and nerves run through the spine. This tube in the bones is called the spinal canal as the nerves and spinal cord run through them.