What happens during spinal sidebending?

During spinal sidebending, the body performs lateral bending movements, which occur in the coronal plane. This means that when the spine bends to the side, it allows for a shift of the vertebrae and torso in a sideways direction. This motion is critical for understanding how the spine functions and how it accommodates various movements, such as reaching or twisting, which can impact the alignment and flexibility of the vertebral column.

In this motion, the vertebrae on the side toward which the body bends compress slightly, while the vertebrae on the opposite side undergo a stretch. This dynamic contributes to the overall function of the spine, allowing for mobility and flexibility while also maintaining stability.

The other options describe different types of movements not associated with sidebending: bending forward pertains to flexion, twisting relates to rotation around the vertical axis, and extending backward describes spinal extension, none of which capture the lateral bending characteristic of spinal sidebending in the coronal plane.