Define a spinal motion segment and name its primary stabilizers.

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A spinal motion segment is the functional unit between two adjacent vertebrae, consisting of the intervertebral disc and the facet joints, which together bear loads and allow controlled spinal movement. The primary stabilizers are the disc components—the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus—along with the ligaments that limit excessive motion, specifically the posterior longitudinal ligament and the anterior longitudinal ligament; the ligamentum flavum that provides elastic recoil and posterior stability; the facet joint capsules that constrain facet movement; and the surrounding muscles that provide dynamic stabilization and proprioceptive control. These structures work together to resist compression, shear, and bending forces while guiding motion at each segment.