To understand the principles and theories behind chiropractic, a brief overview of anatomy of the horse's back needs to be discussed. The typical vertebra consists of a vertebral body and several vertebral processes. The vertebrae protect the spinal cord and nerves. As the nerves exit the spine, they divide into various branches. Some branches go to the joints, muscles, and skin of the back.
Nerves can sense pain and joint movement.
Pain sensors are found in the bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, and blood vessels of the back. The muscles of the head and neck can be categorized into superficial and deep muscle groups. The large, superficial back muscles span large regions of the spine and ensure coordinated back movements. The smaller, deep back muscles connect one or two vertebrae and act to move or stabilize individual vertebrae. The spinal ligaments connect the individual vertebrae and provide joint support.