Neurosurgery Coding Alert

Question: I’m new to neurosurgery coding and the anatomy of the spine is still confusing to me. Can you explain the spinal structure and function in the simplest terms possible?

Utah Subscriber

Answer: We got a spinal expert’s take on spine structure and function at HEALTHCON Regional 2025 in San Diego. Oby Egbunike, CCS-P, CPC, COC, CRC, ran down the basics of spinal anatomy during her “Spine Surgery” presentation.

The spine is divided into five sections: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx. “It encloses the spinal cord and the fluid surrounding the spinal cord,” Egbunike said. “The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves from the base of the brain to the rest of the body which allows you to coordinate your movement.”

Here’s a look at each of the five spinal sections:

• The cervical segment is made up of the seven vertebrae near the neck (C1 to C7) and allow you to turn, tilt, and nod your head.
• The thoracic segment is made up of 12 vertebrae in the middle back (T1 to T12). The ribs are attached to the thoracic spine, Egbunike explained.
• The lumbar segment is made up of five vertebrae in the lower back (L1 to L5). The lumbar segment supports the upper part of the spine; it also connects to the pelvis and bears the brunt of your body weight. The stress of lifting and carrying items is also shouldered by the lumbar segment, Egbunike said.
• The sacrum is made up of five sacral vertebrae fused together (S1 to S5) to form a triangle-shaped bone. This bone connects to your hips, forming a ring called the pelvic girdle.
• The coccyx, also called the tailbone, consists of four fused vertebrae at the bottom of the spine. The coccyx is attached to pelvic floor muscles and ligaments, according to Egbunike.

Chris Boucher, MS, CPC, Senior Development Editor, AAPC