A brief primer on the spine

In order for me to explain how back pain plays a large role in Rome's Revolution, it is necessary for you to know a little bit about the bio-mechanics of the spine. Nobody is reading this blog because they want to know about anatomy or physiology so I'll be brief.

The human spine is a marvelous but flawed invention by nature or a higher power to allow humans to walk upright. The shape and shock-absorbing characteristics have to be tuned just right. Here is a picture of a normal human spine.



It is not straight. It has an S-shape and flexes in all directions. Between each vertebra is a pad of tissue called a vertebral disk. Everybody has heard of a "slipped disk" but there is so much more than can go wrong. Nerves can be pinched because of stenosis. The disk can bulge or even rupture. Here is a picture of a disk.



The disk is made up of a fibrous outer layer called the annulus fibrosus and a jelly-like interior called the nucleus pulposus. If you have a fissured disk and interstitial fluid comes in contact with the nucleus pulposus, the disk can secret Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (TNA-Alpha). This substance is so toxic, so inflammatory, that it can cause back pain and swelling just by its release.

So how does this relate in any way to the whole Rome's Revolution universe? All will be explained tomorrow.