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Spine The spine --- also called the backbone or vertebral column --- consists of 24 ring shaped bones called vertebrae. Between the vertebare discs of tough cartilage absorb the impacts of walking, running, and other physical activities. The spine protects the spinal cord --- the 27 pairs of spinal nerves that pass messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Do not apply any but the lightest flogging to the spine. The vertebrae have protuberances that can be damaged by heavy percussion. While it is nearly impossible to completely avoid flogging over this area, don't aim your floggers or whips over the spine. Kidneys Kidneys are bean shaped organs that filter wastes (salt, water, etc.,) from the blood and excrete them as urine. There seems to be a common misperception as to the location of the kidneys. A sizable number of people think they are located "just above the buttocks" or inside the love handles. In reality they are located at the back of the adominal wall near the 12th ribs and an inch from either side of the spine. The upper two thirds of the kidneys are usually protected by the rib cage and a thick layer of muscle. As long as the shoulder blades are avoided and the implements are soft and flexible, it's possible to apply intense flogging or whipping to this area without damaging the kidneys or any other internal organs. But in the area immediately below the rib cage, the remaining lower third of the kidneys are far more vulnerable to trauma from impact. It's best not to hit this area otherwise serious damage could result. Tailbone As Larry Townsend writes, the buttock are the "most natural place to begin" a flogging scene. But it's best to aim for the middle and bottom of the buttocks. Avoid the top of the ass so as to not damage the sacrum. The sacrum -- or "tailbone" is a wide group of bones at the base of the spine -- at the top of the "butt clef." The bottom most section of the sacrum is a fused section of bones called the coccyx. The coccyx is very fragile and it can snap off very easily. That is extremely painful. So while the buttocks and thigh are well protected by muscle and fat and can therefore take a lot of heavy impact, the area between the buttock at the bottom of the spine must be carefully avoided with paddles, hands, heavy floggers, and -- especially -- canes. Sciatic Nerve The sciatic nerves (aka ischiatic nerves) are the longest nerves in the body. They start in the lower back, run through the buttocks (under the piriformis muscle), and down the legs. They supply motor control to all the muscles at the rear of the thighs, lower legs, and feet. Compression or irritation of the sciatic nerves can cause a painful condition called sciatica which can involve pain, numbness, muscular weakness, and difficulty controlling or moving the leg. This author knows a woman whose debilitating sciatica was caused by an overzealous session of flogging. Many years later she walks with a limp and requires the use of a cane.

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References

• Califia, Pat. Sensuous Magic: A Guide for Adventurous Couples   New York: Masquerade Books, Inc., 1998.
• Gray, Henry and and H.V. Carter. Anatomy of the Human Body   Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918. (located on-line at http://www.bartleby.com/107/)
• Miller, Philip and Molly Devon Screw the Roses, Send Me the Thorns   Fairfield: Mystic Rose Books, 1995
• Townsend, Larry The Leatherman's Handbook II   New York: Modernismo Books, 1983
• Wiseman, Jay SM 101: A Realistic Introduction   Greenery Press: San Francisco

Image Sources

• Gray, Henry and and H.V. Carter. Anatomy of the Human Body   Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger, 1918. (located on-line at http://www.bartleby.com/107/)
• Harter, Jim, ed., Old-Time Anatomical Illustrations CD-ROM and Book   New York: Dover Publications, 2005
• "Four Witches" by Albrecht Dürer.   1497, engraving, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

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