Illustration of a human back from Gray's Anatomy. Henry Gray's Anatomy of the Human Body (or Gray's Anatomy as it has commonly been shortened is an English-language Human anatomy Textbook

"Back" redirects here. For other uses, please see Back (disambiguation).

The human back is the large posterior area of the human body, rising from the top of the buttocks to the back of the neck and the shoulders. In fields of Anatomy, anatomical terms of location are descriptive terms to help identify relative positions or directions within a species The human body is the entire physical and mental structure of a Human Organism. The buttocks (singular buttock) are rounded portions of the anatomy located on the posterior of the Pelvic region of the Apes including Humans The neck is the part of the Body on many limbed Vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the Torso or trunk It is the surface opposite to the chest, its height being defined by the vertebral column (commonly referred to as the spine or backbone) and its breadth being supported by the ribcage and shoulders. The chest is a part of the Anatomy of humans and various other animals sometimes referred to as the Thorax. In Human anatomy, the vertebral column ( backbone or spine) is a column of 34 Vertebrae the Sacrum, Intervertebral In Vertebrate Anatomy, ribs ( Latin costae) are the long curved Bones which form the ribcage. In Human anatomy, the shoulder joint comprises the part of the body where the Humerus attaches to the Scapula. The spinal canal runs through the spine and provides nerves to the rest of the body. The spinal canal (or vertebral canal or spinal cavity) is the space in Vertebrae through which the Spinal cord passes

Anatomy of the back

Skeletal structure of the back

Figure 3 : Posterior view of the thorax and shoulder girdle. (Morris. )

The central feature of the human back is the vertebral column, specifically the length from the top of the thoracic vertebrae to the bottom of the lumbar vertebrae, which houses the spinal cord in its spinal canal, and which generally has some curvature that gives shape to the back. In Human anatomy, the vertebral column ( backbone or spine) is a column of 34 Vertebrae the Sacrum, Intervertebral The 12 thoracic vertebrae compose the middle segment of the Vertebral column, between the Cervical vertebrae and the Lumbar vertebrae. The lumbar vertebrae are the largest segments of the movable part of the Vertebral column, and are characterized by the absence of the Foramen transversarium within The spinal cord is a long thin tubular bundle of Nerves that is an extension of the Central nervous system from the brain and is enclosed in and protected The spinal canal (or vertebral canal or spinal cavity) is the space in Vertebrae through which the Spinal cord passes The ribcage extends from the spine at the top of the back (with the top of the ribcage corresponding to the T1 vertebra), more than halfway down the length of the back, leaving an area with less protection between the bottom of the ribcage and the hips. A vertebra (plural vertebrae) is an individual Irregular bone in the spinal or Vertebral column ( aka ischis a flexuous and flexible column The width of the back at the top is defined by the scapula, the broad, flat bones of the shoulders. In Anatomy, the scapula, omo, or shoulder blade, is the Bone that connects the Humerus (arm bone with the Clavicle (collar

Muscles of the back

The spine is bordered by several groups of muscles, including the intertransversarii muscle which facilitate movement between the individual vertabrae, and the multifidus spinae, which facilitate the movement of the spine as a whole. Muscle (from Latin musculus, diminutive of mus "mouse" is contractile tissue of the body and is derived from the The Intertransversarii are small Muscles placed between the Transverse processes of the Vertebræ. A vertebra (plural vertebrae) is an individual Irregular bone in the spinal or Vertebral column ( aka ischis a flexuous and flexible column The multifidus ( multifidus spinae: pl multifidi) muscle consists of a number of fleshy and tendinous Fasciculi, which fill up the groove on

Other muscles in the back are associated with the movement of the neck and shoulders. The trapezius muscle, which is named from its trapezium-like shape, runs between the neck, the anterior chain, the two shoulders, and the thoracic vertebra, T12. In Human anatomy, the trapezius is a large Superficial Muscle which extends longitudinally from the occipital bone to the lower thoracic vertebrae In Geometry, a quadrilateral is a Polygon with four sides or edges and four vertices or corners. The neck is the part of the Body on many limbed Vertebrates that distinguishes the head from the Torso or trunk Beach muscles refer to a group of Muscles that lie on the front of the human body In Human anatomy, the shoulder joint comprises the part of the body where the Humerus attaches to the Scapula. The large latissimus dorsi make a triangle from the shoulder to the hip. The latissimus dorsi (plural latissimi dorsi is the large flat dorso-lateral muscle on the trunk posterior to the arm and partly covered by the Trapezius on its median The significant mass of muscles in the back can be developed through back exercises.

Function of the back

The intricate anatomy of the back provides support for the head and trunk of the body, strength in the trunk of the body, as well as a great deal of flexibility and movement. The upper back has the most structural support, with the ribs attached firmly to each level of the thoracic spine and very limited movement. The lower back (lumbar vertabrae) allows for flexibility and movement in backbending (extension) and forward bending (flexion). It does not permit twisting.

Back pain

Main article: Back pain

The back comprises interconnecting nerves, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons, all of which can be a source of pain. Back pain (also known " dorsalgia " is Pain felt in the back that usually originates from the Muscles Nerves Bones Back pain is one of the most common types of pain in adults. Back pain (also known " dorsalgia " is Pain felt in the back that usually originates from the Muscles Nerves Bones By far the most common cause of back pain is muscle strain. The back muscles can usually heal themselves within a couple of weeks, but the pain can be intense and debilitating. Other common sources of back pain include disc problems, such as degenerative disc disease or a lumbar disc herniation, many types of fractures, such as spondylolisthesis or an osteoporotic fracture, or osteoarthritis. Degeneration of the Intervertebral disc, which is often called " degenerative disc disease " (DDD of the spine, is a condition that can be painful and can In Anatomy, lumbar is an Adjective that means of or pertaining to the Abdominal segment of the Torso, between the diaphragm and Spondylolisthesis describes the anterior displacement of a Vertebra or the vertebral column in relation to the vertebrae below Osteoarthritis ( OA, also known as degenerative Arthritis, degenerative joint disease) is a clinical syndrome in which low-grade inflammation

Organs of the back

The lungs are within the ribcage, and extend to the back of the ribcage, making it possible for them to be listened into through the back. lung is the essential Respiration organ in air-breathing Animals including most Tetrapods a few Fish and a few Snails The most primitive The kidneys are situated beneath the muscles in the area below the end of the ribcage, loosely connected to the peritoneum. The kidneys are complicated organs that have numerous biological roles In higher Vertebrates the peritoneum is the Serous membrane that forms the lining of the abdominal cavity &mdash it covers most of the intra-abdominal A strike to the lower back can damage the kidneys of the person being hit.

Surface of the back

The skin of the human back is thicker and has fewer nerve endings than the skin on any other part of the torso. The skin is the outer covering of living tissue of an animal (or plant With some notable exceptions (see, e. g. George "The Animal" Steele), it tends to have less hair than the chest on men. William James Myers (born April 16, 1937 in Detroit Michigan) better known by his Ring name George "The Animal" Steele The upper-middle back is also the one area of the body which a typical human under normal conditions might be unable to physically touch. When this area is itchy, a backscratcher can be used to ease the discomfort. Itch ( Latin: pruritus) is an unpleasant Sensation that evokes the desire or Reflex to scratch

Significance in human society

Painting of a woman's back by Edgar Degas.

A tattoo on the lower back.

The curvature of the female back is a frequent theme in paintings, because the sensibilities of many cultures permit the back to be shown nude - implying full nudity without actually displaying it. Indeed, the practice of showing explicitness on the lower back has been performed for centuries. Certain articles of clothing, such as the haltertop and the backless dress, are designed to expose the back in this manner. Halterneck is a style of women's Clothing with a single Strap around the back of the neck A backless dress is a Dress designed so as to expose the wearer's back and The back also serves as the largest canvas for body art on the human body. Canvas is an extremely heavy-duty plain-woven fabric used for making Sails Tents Marquees Backpacks and other functions Body art is Art made on with or consisting of the Human body The most common forms of body art are Tattoos and Body piercings but other Because of its size and the relative lack of hair, the back presents an ideal canvas on the human body for Lower back tattoos. Beginning in the late 1990s the lower back Tattoo became popular especially among young women Indeed, some individuals have tattoos that cover the entirety of the back. A tattoo is a permanent marking made by inserting ink into the layers of Skin to change the pigment for decorative or other reasons Others have smaller tattoos at significant locations, such as the shoulder blade or the bottom of the back.

Many English idioms mention the back, usually highlighting it as an area of vulnerability; one must "watch one's back", or one may end up "with one's back up against the wall"; worse yet, someone may "stab one in the back", but hopefully a friend "has got one's back". English is a West Germanic language originating in England and is the First language for most people in the United Kingdom, the United States An idiom is a Phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal Definition, but refers instead to a figurative meaning that is known only The back is also a symbol of strength and hard work, with those seeking physical labor looking for "strong backs", and workers being implored to "put their back into it".

References

• Tattoos on Lower Backs