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Is There a Design Flaw in the Human Spine?

It seems our physiological design is flawed; we are not evolving out of back pain. Why so? The majority of vertebrates walk on all four legs which from a biomechanical perspective seemingly distributes the weight over the entire length of the spine. There are actually very few animals that do walk around on two legs as we humans do. Birds tend to walk or hop along on their two legs but not in the same manner as humans. Kangaroos hop and at high speeds and some lizards trot along on two legs when they are engaged in a full out sprint. But we humans are certainly the only primate which have evolved to walk around bipedal. It seems this evolutionary track may have come about too rapidly for our…

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 Anatomy of the back: spine and back muscles

The back is the body region between the neck and the gluteal regions. It comprises the vertebral column (spine) and two compartments of back muscles; extrinsic and intrinsic. The back functions are many, such as to house and protect the spinal cord, hold the body and head upright, and adjust the movements of the upper and lower limbs.

Articles of Interest

Eric Favre

Many muscular groups make up the back. Among the fundamentals are the large dorsal muscles, the trapezius muscles and the lumbar muscles. Each differs primarily in shape. For example, the large dorsal muscles are intended to be larger. The trapezius muscles are located at the top of the back...

Anatomy of the Back

A collection of articles covering the anatomy of the back, including the muscles of the back and the vertebral column.

Back & Core

I am a current fourth year medical student at the University of British Columbia Welcome to clinicalanatomy.ca. Whether you’re a medical student, a nurse, an undergraduate student, or any other learner interested in the medical field or anatomy there is something on this website to enrich your learning.

Back Anatomy: All About the Back Muscles

The back anatomy includes the latissimus dorsi, trapezius, erector spinae, rhomboid, and the teres major.

The Basics of Back Pain and Spinal Anatomy

Spinal anatomy is a remarkably intricate structure of strong bones, flexible ligaments and tendons, extensive muscles, and highly sensitive nerves and nerve roots. We often don't think about their form and function, though, until they become a source of pain.

The Ultimate Guide To Your Back Muscle Anatomy

The muscles in and around your back can be an asset or a liability. Strong, pliable, well-oiled muscles allow you to achieve high levels of physical performance, while weak, tight, and knotted muscles contribute to fragility and pain.