General and Specific Anatomy

The dorsal region extends from the skull to the end of the tailbone (Coccyx) and includes the back of the head, the back of the neck, the back of the chest, the back of the abdomen, and the upper buttocks. The back area is important because of its low back pain and spine. When examining the superficial anatomy of the back, the hands should hang loosely along the torso and the shoes should be removed. The spine starts at the end of the skull and extends along the length of the neck and trunk. This column consists of a number of beads arranged in a row that are connected by ligaments and intervertebral discs. The length of the spine varies from person to person and the average in men is about 70 cm, which is 12 cm in the neck, 28 cm in the thoracic region, 12 cm in the lumbar region and 18 cm in the pelvic region (sacral and tail). In women, the length of the spine is 60 cm. In general, the length of the spine is two-fifths of the height of the whole body.