Canine spine health is a critical aspect of any dog’s physical well-being. Like us humans, dogs’ central nervous system is composed of the brain and spinal cord. This article will take a deeper look into what makes up the canine spine!
GENERAL ANATOMY
Dogs have two nervous systems, similar to humans: central and periphery. The central nervous system of dogs includes the brain and spine. Both of the systems work together to help process information and motor signals. The central nervous system contains billions of cells known as neurons. Neurons in the peripheral nervous system pair up to form spinal nerves that transmit information from the spinal cord and extend outward into the legs, bladder, and tail. To understand what the dog’s spine is made of, let us first examine their spinal column. Like in people, the canine spine supports weight and encloses the spinal cord. The spine starts on the top of the head and extends down to their tail. The canine spine is divided into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and caudal. There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 13 thoracic vertebrae, 7 lumbar vertebrae and 3 sacral vertebrae.
CERVICAL VERTEBRAE
The first cervical vertebrae is called the Atlas. Its function allows the up and down motion of the head on the neck, such as when your dog motions downwards to eat/drink. The cervical vertebrae gives support and flexibility to your dog’s neck, just like us humans. The Atlas has a very small bone, but is connected by large joints called “wings”. These wings are attached to powerful neck muscles responsible for the arch of your dog’s neck. The Atlas works together with the Occiput (back of skull) to allow for the hinge-like up-and-down movement of the skull on the neck. The second cervical vertebrae is called the Axis. Its function allows the rotational movement of the head. Similar to humans, this movement is stemmed from the cervical vertebrae.
THORACIC VERTEBRAE
The thoracic vertebrae of dogs form the thoracic spine, a slightly bony rod that stretches between their upper back, characterized by its limited flexibility. The thoracic spine is the middle section of your spine. It starts at the base of your dog’s neck and ends at the bottom of their ribs. Each of the 13 thoracic vertebrae has a short body with a shark-tooth like structure stabilizing the area between skin and bone. This structure stabilizes the rib cage, which is essential for canines, since their ribs protect the heart and lungs. The 11th vertebra, or the anticlinal vertebrae, starts to articulate (rotate) clockwise to stabilize the structure
LUMBAR VERTEBRAE
The Lumbar vertebrae are more uniform and longer in shape than the thoracic vertebrae. There are seven Lumbar Vertebrae in canines. This structure allows flexion (bend) and extension of the spine. Similar to humans, the lumbar spine allows us and canines to walk, run, sit, lift, and move every which way!
SACRAL VERTEBRAE
There are 3 Sacrum Vertebrae, which makes up the hip flexion joint for canines. The sacrum is a shield-shaped structure that connects the vertebrae to the pelvis. This stabilizes the joint so your dog can run in different directions and allow them to be flexible.
CAUDAL VERTEBRAE
The number of caudal vertebrae varies according to the species. Generally, There are 6 to 23 caudal vertebrae in canines. This structure is what makes up your dog’s tail! The coccyx, or the tailbone, is the final segment of this structure. As mentioned, the caudal vertebrae are the muscles and joints that protect your dog’s tail, and allow it to wag.
CONCLUSION
Dogs, like humans, have complex networks of vertebrae that make up their spinal cord. Each part has separate functions that work together with other systems to ensure longevity and health. Now that you are equipped with some knowledge about your furry partner’s spine, check out this article on other parts of the canine nervous system.
