How Your Spine Works

The Basic Structure of the Spine

Your Spine Is Like a Stack of Building Blocks

Your spine is made up of individual bones called vertebrae, stacked on top of one another — much like a tower of building blocks.

Full spine lateral view showing cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions

In total, your spine has 24 vertebrae plus the sacrum at the bottom.

When we talk about lower back pain and spinal stenosis, we're usually talking about the lumbar spine — the five vertebrae in your lower back.

Lateral view of the lumbar spine showing intervertebral discs, facet joints, vertebral bodies, and nerve roots