What is the lumbar spine?
The lumbar spine, commonly referred to as the low back, is the part of the spine that covers the area between the ribs and the hips. It is composed of five bones, called vertebrae, with cushions, or discs, between each bone. These discs act as shock absorbers, allowing the bones to move without rubbing against each other. The lumbar spine is held in place by ligaments and surrounded by multiple layers of muscles. The spinal cord runs down the middle of each vertebra, from which nerves branch out to both the left and right sides of the spine.