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The Spine

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The spine gives your body structure, and helps you to sit, stand, walk, twist and bend.  It also protects the nerves that travel through its centre in the spinal cord.

The spine is made up of:

  • Vertebrae: 33 stacked, small bones that form the spinal canal.
  • Intervertebral disks: flat, round cushions with a gel-like center that sit between the vertebrae acting as the spine’s shock absorber.
  • Facet joints: which hold the vertebrae together.  Their cartilage allows the bones to slide against each other so we can twist and turn.
  • The spinal cord: the group of nerves that travel through the spinal canal.  Messages are sent between the brain and muscles via 31 pairs of nerves that branch out through openings in the vertebrae.Soft tissue: Ligaments, tendon and muscle, which help connect and support the vertebrae and aid movement

The spine starts at the base of the skull, and ends at the tailbone, which is part of the pelvis. It is not straight, but curves to form an S shape. This helps the spine to absorb shocks and avoid injury. It’s split into five sections.

  • Cervical spine (neck): seven vertebrae, that allow you to move your head.
  • Thoracic spine (middle back): 12 vertebrae which are attached to your ribs.
  • Lumbar spine (lower back): five vertebrae that support the upper parts of your spine, connect to your pelvis and bear most of your body’s weight, as well as the stress of lifting.
  • Sacrum: five vertebrae that are fused together into a triangle shaped bone and cannot move independently. It connects to your hips.
    Coccyx: Four fused vertebrae to which pelvic floor muscles and ligaments are attached.

Metastases (secondary cancer growths)

Metastases (secondary cancer growths) can occur in the bone of the spine in salivary gland cancers - although it's important to note many patients do not go on to develop such secondary growths. Symptoms of metastasis in the spine can include back pain and kyphosis (curvature of the spine which causes the back to look more rounded than usual). However, bone metastases can be asymptomatic, especially in the earlier stages, and so they are often only discovered incidentally during routine scans.

You can listen to Alison C talk about her diagnosis and treatment for ACC spine metastases here. (Begins at 2.50 in the interview.)