Human Neck and Spine – A Well Engineered Structure

Human body with its many organs and their functions is a mystery that is being solved every day. The body functions in an amazing way which makes the study of human body interesting. One of the most important parts of our body is the neck which is very well engineered structures made of bones, muscles, ligaments, nerves and tendons. The neck begins just below the skull and houses the spine and spinal cord which continues through the body and forms a vast network to communicate between the brain and other parts of the body. Spine is one of the most important parts of our body which helps us in standing erect bearing most of the weight of our body and also greatly helps in movements. The spine made of 33 vertebrae is divided into three parts: The Cervical Spine, Dorsal or Thoracic Spine and the Lumbar Spine. The Cervical Spine is the neck region which begins right below the skull. The Thoracic Spine is in the upper back region and the Lumbar Spine in the lower back region. The vertebrae of the spine are separated from one another by inter vertebral discs which prevents the vertebrae from coming in contact with one another. These discs help in the movement of the spine and act as shock absorbers taking in the impact caused due to our movements. As they have significant functions to perform it is highly important for the spine to be in good condition. Any disturbance or pressure on the spine may lead to problems which may become a hindrance in our daily activities. The spinal problems may lead to severe neck or back pain depending on the location of the problem in spine. The problems in cervical spine may lead to severe pain in the neck region which shoots to arms whereas the problems in the lumbar spine may lead to pain in the legs. There may be various reasons for the neck pain like disc degeneration, arthritis or narrowing of spinal canal which have symptoms like:rnFever or headache accompanied with neck painrnStiff neckrnPain shooting to one armrnNumbness, tingling or weakness in one arm It may be the result of aging, poor postures, injuries to neck due to accidents. Though non-surgical treatments are preferred, depending on the magnitude of the problem some may have to go through Cervical Spine Surgery. The primary goal of the surgery is to relieve pain, tingling, numbness, pressure on the spine and restore the nerve back to its original condition. Dr. Gupte’s Spine & Brain Clinic in Pune, headed by Dr. Avneesh Gupte offers treatments for various problems related to brain and spine. With eminent panel of neurologists and neurosurgeons and technically advanced facilities the hospital handles critical and emergency cases.