The spine plays a vital role in everyday movement and posture. Learn how its structure—from vertebrae to nerves—supports the body and why understanding spine anatomy is key to recognizing common conditions.

Clinical context Pedicle screw fixation is widely used to achieve stability and facilitate fusion in degenerative lumbar spine conditions. Given the close proximity of screw trajectories to the facet joint of the cranial adjacent segment a structure critical for motion and posterior stability even small deviations in placement may result in unintended encroachment or breach of this joint, referred to as superior facet joint violation (FJV). This is particularly relevant in the context of...

From Standardization to Precision For decades, spine implants have been designed to fit within a range rather than match patient anatomy precisely (1,2). While this approach has enabled consistent outcomes, it relies on approximation. Recent advances in imaging, computational design, and additive manufacturing have introduced the ability to develop patient-specific implants tailored to individual anatomy. At the same time, improved understanding of implant–bone interface mechanics has...