Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature01:16

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature

The vertebral column or spine is a flexible column that supports the head, neck, and body and  allows for their movements. It also protects the spinal cord.
Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form the...
Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction01:29

Herniated Intervertebral Disc l: Introduction

Intervertebral disc herniation refers to the displacement of the nucleus pulposus (the gel-like inner core of the disc) through a tear or weakened area in the annulus fibrosus (the outer fibrous ring). The displaced disc material extends beyond the normal boundaries of the disc space and may compress or irritate nearby spinal nerve roots or, less commonly, the spinal cord.Etiology and Risk FactorsHerniation commonly results from degeneration, in which aging reduces disc hydration and...
General Structure of a Vertebra01:30

General Structure of a Vertebra

A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous column.
Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy01:15

Spinal Cord: Gross Anatomy

The spinal cord resides within the protective confines of the vertebral column. It is the main pathway for information traveling between the brain and the body. It plays a fundamental role in nearly all bodily functions, from simple reflexes to complex motor movements. The spinal cord begins at the medulla oblongata at the base of the brainstem and extends downward, terminating at the conus medullaris near the first and second lumbar vertebrae. The spinal cord's length in adults is...
The Spinal Cord01:54

The Spinal Cord

The spinal cord is the body’s major nerve tract of the central nervous system, communicating afferent sensory information from the periphery to the brain and efferent motor information from the brain to the body. The human spinal cord extends from the hole at the base of the skull, or foramen magnum, to the level of the first or second lumbar vertebra.
Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy01:16

Spinal Cord: Cross-sectional Anatomy

The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
Gray Matter and its Components
Central to the gray matter is...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Outcomes in Early versus Delayed Trauma Pancreaticoduodenectomies in Gunshot Wounds to the Pancreas.

The Journal of surgical research·2026
Same author

Ownership Matters: The Association Between Hospital Ownership and Older Adult Patient Outcomes in Emergency General Surgery.

The Journal of surgical research·2026
Same author

Comparable outcomes for non-operative intracranial hemorrhage at Level III vs Level I/II trauma centers.

Injury·2026
Same author

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in trauma patients with major pulmonary contusion.

The journal of trauma and acute care surgery·2026
Same author

The First Clue: Admission Source as a Predictor of Risk in Emergency Surgery Among Older Adults.

The Journal of surgical research·2026
Same author

Predictors of Postacute Care Discharge in Older Adult Emergency General Surgery: A Nationwide Analysis.

The Journal of surgical research·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
09:24

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: January 5, 2015

Falls from height: spine, spine, spine!

George C Velmahos1, Konstantinos Spaniolas, Hasan B Alam

  • 1Division of Trauma, Emergency Surgery, and Surgical Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA. gvelmahos@partners.org

Journal of the American College of Surgeons
|November 7, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Spinal injuries are common after falls from over 10 feet. Alcohol intoxication was a weak predictor, and many patients with spinal injuries had no symptoms due to distracting injuries, necessitating thorough spine evaluation.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury
09:24

A Novel Vertebral Stabilization Method for Producing Contusive Spinal Cord Injury

Published on: January 5, 2015

Area of Science:

  • Trauma surgery
  • Orthopedic surgery
  • Emergency medicine

Background:

  • Falls from height are a significant cause of patient morbidity and hospital costs.
  • Spinal injuries are common following falls from height, but reliable predictive factors remain elusive.
  • Diagnostic evaluation of the spine in these patients is complex and debated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize spinal injuries in patients experiencing falls from height greater than 10 feet.
  • To identify independent predictive factors for spinal injuries in this patient population.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of medical records from patients admitted to a Level I trauma center over 66 months following falls from height >10 feet.
  • Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to identify independent risk factors for spinal injuries.

Main Results:

  • Of 414 patients, 127 (31%) sustained 277 spinal injuries, with 49% having multiple injuries at different levels.
  • Alcohol intoxication was the only independent predictor (OR=3.305), but its predictive ability was weak due to low numbers.
  • Fall height did not correlate with injury likelihood; 22% of patients with spinal injuries and clear exams had no symptoms, often due to distracting injuries.

Conclusions:

  • Spinal injury is frequent in survivors of falls from >10 feet.
  • The absence of reliable predictors, potential for multiple non-contiguous fractures, and presence of distracting injuries necessitate aggressive evaluation of the entire spine.