Lumbar

Lumbar

In anatomy, lumbar is an adjective that means "of or pertaining to the abdominal segment of the torso, between the diaphragm and the sacrum (pelvis)". The five vertebrae in the lumbar region of the back are the largest and strongest in the movable part of the spinal column, and can be distinguished by the absence of a foramen in the transverse process, and by the absence of facets on the sides of the body. In most mammals, the lumbar region of the spine curves outward; this is called lordosis.

The actual spinal cord (medulla spinalis) terminates between vertebrae one and two of this series, called L1 and L2. The nervous tissue that extends below this point are individual strands that collectively form the cauda equina. In between each lumbar vertebra a nerve root exits, and these nerve roots come together again to form the largest single nerve in the human body, the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve runs through the back of each leg and into the feet. This is why a disorder of the low back that affects a nerve root, such as a spinal disc herniation, can cause pain that radiates along the sciatic nerve (sciatica) down into the foot.

There are several muscles in the low back that assist with rotation, flexibility and strength. These muscles are susceptible to injury, especially while lifting heavy objects, or lifting while twisting. A low back muscle strain can be extremely painful but will usually heal within a few days or weeks.

The lumbar portion of the spine bears the most body weight and also provides the most flexibility, a combination that makes it susceptible to injury and wear and tear over time. This is why low back pain is so prevalent.

ee also

*Car seat and lumbar support
*Lumbar Puncture
*Lumbar vertebrae

External links

* [http://www.medicinenet.com/low_back_pain/article.htm Lower back pain information]


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Lumbar — Lum bar, Lumbal Lum bal, a. [L. lumbus loin. See {Loin}.] (Anat.) Of, pertaining to, or near, the loins; as, the lumbar arteries. [1913 Webster] {Lumbar region} (Anat.), the region of the loin; specifically, a region between the hypochondriac and …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lumbar — adjetivo 1. Área: anatomía De la región del cuerpo que está situada en el dorso, entre las últimas costillas y la cresta ilíaca: ejercicios lumbares. He notado un tirón lumbar …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • lumbar — Perteneciente o relativo a la parte del cuerpo situada entre el tórax y la pelvis. Diccionario Mosby Medicina, Enfermería y Ciencias de la Salud, Ediciones Hancourt, S.A. 1999 …   Diccionario médico

  • lumbar — (adj.) pertaining to or situated near the loins, 1650s, from Mod.L. lumbaris, from L. lumbus loin (see LUMBAGO (Cf. lumbago)) …   Etymology dictionary

  • lumbar — (De lumbo). adj. Anat. Perteneciente o relativo a los lomos y caderas …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • lumbar — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to the lower back. ORIGIN Latin lumbaris, from lumbus loin …   English terms dictionary

  • lumbar — [lum′bär΄, lum′bər] adj. [ModL lumbaris < L lumbus, loin < IE * londhwos < base * lendh > OE lendenu, loins] of or near the loins; specif., designating or of the vertebrae, nerves, arteries, etc. in the part of the back just below the …   English World dictionary

  • lumbar — ► adjetivo ANATOMÍA De la zona situada en el dorso, entre el borde de las últimas costillas y la cresta ilíaca: ■ región lumbar; musculatura lumbar . * * * lumbar (de «lumbo») adj. Anat. De los *riñones o lomo, o sea, la región del cuerpo situada …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Lumbar — Referring to the 5 lumbar vertebrae which are situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae in the spinal column. The 5 lumbar vertebrae are represented by the symbols L1 through L5. There are correspondingly 5 lumbar… …   Medical dictionary

  • Lumbar — La palabra lumbar puede hacer referencia a los siguientes conceptos: La región lumbar, una región de la espalda delimitada en altura por las vértebras lumbares, aproximadamente a la altura de los riñones. Los lumbares, un grupo de ejercicios… …   Wikipedia Español

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