Back is the back of the human body that runs from the base of the neck and shoulders to the back. It is in front of the chest and its height is given by the spine. Its width is based on the rib cage and shoulders. Morphology: plural (return) has the same meaning as in the singular.
Basically, the back is for:
- Maintain the body and allow its movement.
- It helps to keep the center of gravity stable, both at rest and, above all, in motion.
- Protect the spinal cord in a layer of bone.
- To support the weight of the body, the back must be solid. It is made up of very strong bones and powerful muscles.
To allow movement, the spine must be flexible. That is why it is not made up of one large bone but of 33 separate vertebrae, arranged one on top of the other and supported by a system of muscles and ligaments.
To help maintain a stable center of gravity, the contraction of the back muscles acts as a counterweight to compensate for the movements of the rest of the body. To do this, the muscles must be powerful.
To protect the spinal cord, the vertebrae are specially shaped; a hole in its center through which the medulla runs.
The back is the seat of disorders or illnesses related to exertion or poor posture, especially if held for long periods of time. These are predominantly muscle contractures and the so-called myofascial syndrome, which is a more severe type of contracture in which nodules or bands of tension originate within the muscles.
It can also be the site of injuries from direct trauma, sports injuries or present deformities caused by an abnormal shape of the spine that gives rise to the disease known as scoliosis that is characterized by the deviation of the spine from its normal axis.
These painful back disorders of muscular origin are generally known as back pain, when they affect the upper part and the back pain when they are at the level of the lower back.
The involvement of the intercostal and lumbar nerve roots can also cause back discomfort, these occur due to conditions such as intercostal neuritis, compression of the roots due to herniated discs or spondylitis, as well as the involvement of these nerves by infectious diseases such as herpes zoster, commonly known as herpes zoster.
