What is the L4 in your spine?
What is the L4 in your spine?
The L4 and L5 are the two lowest vertebrae of the lumbar spine. Together with the intervertebral disc, joints, nerves, and soft tissues, the L4-L5 spinal motion segment provides a variety of functions, including supporting the upper body and allowing trunk motion in multiple directions.
What part of the spine is L?
The lumbar region of the spine, more commonly known as the lower back, consists of five vertebrae labeled L1 through L5. The lumbar region is situated between the thoracic, or chest, region of the spine, and the sacrum. The lumbar spine typically has a slight inward curve known as lordosis.
What does L spine mean?
The lumbar spine (lower back) consists of five vertebrae in the lower part of the spine, between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal, compressing the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs.
What scan is best for back pain?
An MRI scan is generally considered to be the single best imaging study of the spine to help plan treatment for back pain. Physicians usually have a good idea of what they are looking for on the MRI scan before one is performed.
Can slip disc be fully cured?
Can slipped disc be cured? Yes, slipped disc can be cured. It cannot be entirely prevented but one can reduce the risk by being physically active, performing back strengthening exercises and yoga.
What do you need to know about the L4 spinal nerve?
L4 spinal nerve also controls a group of muscles called L4 myotome, which includes parts of several muscles in the back, leg, foot, pelvis and thigh. L4-L5 motion segment provides a bony enclosure for the cauda equina which means nerves that continue down from the spinal cord and other fragile structures.
Can a L4-L5 disc cause lower back pain?
Mostly L3-L4, L4-L5 and L5-S1 discs are affected in the condition. Lower back stiffness with mild radiation of the pain on sides is the main symptom of this condition. This is a condition where water content of the disc starts reducing. When disc dehydrate, the jelly inside the spine starts weakening.
Is the L3-L4 spinal segment less likely to be injured?
While the L3-L4 motion segment is less likely to be injured compared to its lower counterparts, it may be subject to degeneration, trauma, and disc-related problems. Learn how the lumbar spinal discs function and how lower back conditions can cause back pain and/or radiating pain. Watch Now
What causes Forward slippage of the L4-L5 spine?
Frequently, the bone does not break, but becomes stressed and this condition is called a pars stress reaction. Degenerative spondylolisthesis. The angle of the L4-L5 facet joint changes with age, making this level susceptible to spondylolisthesis (forward slippage of L4 on L5) due to degenerative changes in individuals over 60 years of age. 2