Intervertebral symphysis

Looks like

The joint formed by two vertebral bodies and the disc between them, repeated along the whole spine.

What it does

Allows small movements at each level that add up to the full bending of the back.

Keeping it well

Disc degeneration and herniation happen here. Most back pain settles in weeks; red flags are fever, weight loss, night pain or loss of bladder control.

Its parts

• Sacrococcygeal symphysis

Related conditions

• Axial spondyloarthritis
• Bone metastases and spinal cord compression
• Gout
• Haemophilia & bleeding disorders
• Lyme disease
• Marfan syndrome & connective tissue disorders
• Osteoarthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Rheumatic fever & rheumatic heart disease
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scoliosis
• Spina bifida & neural tube defects
• Spinal cord injury
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Temporomandibular joint disorder