The vertebral column is composed of 26 bones. These bones are stacked on top of one another forming a flexible tunnel that houses the spinal cord.
Are they arranged in a straight line?
Do all of the vertebrae look alike?
Can you detect similarities in groups of vertebrae?
Notice there are 4 natural curves to the vertebral column. What are they called?
No, the vertebrae are not arranged in a straight line. They are instead stacked on top of one another in a curved manner.
No, not all of the vertebrae look alike. There are different types of vertebrae that have specific features and functions. The types of vertebrae include cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacrum, and coccyx (tailbone).
Yes, there are similarities in groups of vertebrae. For example, the cervical vertebrae (C1-C7) in the neck region have certain characteristics that distinguish them from the thoracic (T1-T12) and lumbar (L1-L5) vertebrae.
The four natural curves of the vertebral column are called:
1. Cervical curve: This is the slight forward curve found in the neck region.
2. Thoracic curve: This is the outward curve found in the upper back region.
3. Lumbar curve: This is the inward curve found in the lower back region.
4. Sacral curve: This is the slight outward curve found in the sacrum region, which connects the spine to the pelvis.