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Forces on the vertebral body. (a) Body mass generates a torque with an anteriorly-directed component and a downward component centered on the vertebral body. This is countered by the paraspinal muscles that produce a posteriorly-directed force and a downward force. (b) The anteriorly- and posteriorly-directed forces cancel while the downward forces sum to create a net downward compressive force on the vertebral body.
