ABSTRACT
The spine is a segmental structure comprised of vertebral bones, which are held in alignment through soft tissues comprised of intervertebral disks, joints, ligaments, and musculature. While the spinal vertebral bodies are largely responsible for maintaining height in the presence of axial load, the buttressing soft tissues of the neck, thorax, abdomen, and pelvis are largely responsible for maintaining alignment in the coronal and sagittal planes and preventing pathologic rotatory changes. The segmental anatomy of the spine together with its supporting structures allows for spinal motion in the confines of physiological spinal stability.
