I ordered this item on July 9th, 2013 for educational purposes. The spine is good anatomically and for patient education. However, the product arrived broken. Attempts to reach 3B and Amazon were successful, but both companies faulted the other and ultimately left me with a defective product to this day. Regrettably, I have not ordered products from 3B since 2013 and would not suggest ordering this product. On a positive note, 3B followed up quickly with my complaint. the stand I ordered was not defective and is of great quality.

It does the job

This doesn not come with a stand despite the picture showing the stand.

I should have just bought the cheap spine. When I was a student, I got one and it came with the stand. This one is definitely more sturdy but it didn't come with stand in the picture. Also, as for flexibility, vertebrae in mid thoracic spine are totally locked. The lumbar herniation looks like a lateral protrusion.

As an internist I like models to demonstrate what I can't adequately describe. If a picture is worth a thousand words a model is worth at least ten thousand. There's a little light that goes on when a patient understands exactly what I am trying to convey and models that they can manipulate make what is going on in their own bodies much clearer to them. And that means that what ever I suggest as treatment is going to stick better; we both understand what the problem is and the goal of treatment,
Anyway this is a good model but it would be even better if it were even MORE flexible to show the effects of scoliosis, kyphosis and disc herniation on nerves emanating from between the neural foramina. As it is it holds position in a normal S shaped spine but being able to manipulate it to show the effects of postural change and disease processes would be helpful. It's a tad too stiff for that but still it's a helpful teaching tool.