Back & Neck Pain Print Why Your Lumbar Spine Might Be Causing Your Back Pain Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD on August 05, 2016 Grant Hughes, MD is board-certified in rheumatology and is the head of rheumatology at Seattle's Harborview Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Grant Hughes, MD Written by facebook linkedin Written by Anne Asher, CPT Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. Learn about our editorial policy Anne Asher, CPT Updated on August 12, 2019 VintageMedStock / Getty Images More in Back & Neck Pain Symptoms Causes & Risk Factors Diagnosis Treatment Living With Prevention Exercise Spinal Conditions The lumbar spine is the area of the spinal column that comprises the low back. The lumbar spine is made of 5 vertebrae. Lumbar vertebrae are referred to by 'L,' prepended to an identifying number. The number indicates the level of the lumbar spine in which the particular vertebra is located. Each region of the spine (i.e., the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral regions) have their own numbers; the bones of the lumbar spine are numbered from L-1 to L-5. Below the lumbar spine is the sacrum and below that, is the tailbone, or coccyx. The coccyx is the very last bone of the spine. As with almost all of the other spinal vertebrae, a bone in the lumbar spine is made of front and back "elements." In front, the vertebral body provides support by stacking on top of the bone below it, and by supporting the one above it. (The 5th lumbar vertebra sits on top of the sacrum bone at the sacral base.) A bony ring with several pieces and areas attaches to the vertebral body in the back. These pieces do a number of jobs, from providing attachment sites for ligaments and muscles to making arches through which the spinal cord and spinal nerve roots pass, and forming joints that help maintain the spine's upright integrity. Lumbar Lordosis Each area of the spine is curved, and the lumbar region is no exception. Curves alternate directions in the spine to help provide balance and support for the movement. In the cervical (neck) and lumbar spines, the curve goes towards the front of the body when you look at a side view. This is called a lordosis. A normal lordosis has a degree of curve that is not excessive, but experts don't really know what that measurement is, exactly. Common Problems The lumbar spine is the site of many a back injury and condition. These range from disc problems to degeneration and spinal arthritis, plus more. Below is a short (albeit incomplete) list of issues affecting the low back area: Spondylolisthesis occurs when a spinal bone slips forward, relative to the bone below it. It is a form of spinal instability (see below) and is a progressed version of spondylolysis, as well as pars defect or pars injury.Facet joint hypertrophy is a pre-arthritic condition that can happen in any area of the spine, including the lumbar area.Spurs are another arthritis-related spinal condition.Back mice are fat masses that protrude through the fascia in the back; they are often misdiagnosed.Spinal instability, which may be caused by a number of things, usually results in a lack of ability to support your weight effectively. It comes about when problems in one or more of three spinal "sub-systems" occur. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading