The spinal column performs a lot of functions in a person: it protects the
spinal cord, supports the body in space, serves as a fixative for organs and muscles, and also provides movement. It consists of individual elements called vertebrae. They, as they move away from the head, carry a lot of weight and due to this they become larger and more massive.
The question of how many vertebrae a person has had has been resolved for a long time. In total, a person has from 32 to 34, and they are separated from each other by intervertebral discs, due to which the movement of the body is ensured. The spinal column is divided into several departments. The first section is called the cervical, the second - the thoracic, the third - lumbar, then comes the sacral and coccygeal. The structure of each component of the spine is similar, with the exception of several differences. Significant differences are the first and second.
So how many vertebrae does a person have in each department? In the cervical, seven are distinguished, in the thoracic - twelve, the lumbar is represented by five massive vertebrae. Five sacral ones fused into a single monolith, which is called the sacrum. But the rest of the tail consists of vertebrae, presented in an amount of three to five.
Each department has its own anatomical features. It is best to study the structure of the human spine in pictures. They can be an alternative to a natural preparation or dummy. The vertebra is the simplest element that includes the human skeleton. The spine, despite its simplicity, is a very important part, injuries or damage to which can lead to serious consequences.
We have already found out how many vertebrae a person has, it remains only to briefly characterize each of them by department. The first cervical is called "atlas", the head is attached directly to it. He does not have a body; it switched to the second cervical vertebra in the form of a tooth. Own body was preserved by other representatives of the cervical spine. On the sides of the cervical vertebrae there are holes that form a canal. The artery that feeds the brain passes through it. And the vertebrae themselves, together with representatives of other departments, limit the canal of the spinal cord, in which it actually passes.
In the thoracic region, the vertebrae are distinguished by the presence of dimples. In these pits, ribs are attached, which form the rib cage together with the sternum. The vertebral bodies in this section are more massive, and the channel for the artery is absent, there is only a channel for the spinal cord. The lumbar region carries almost the entire severity of the human body and has large and massive vertebrae.
After the
lumbar region follows the sacrum. This is a monolithic bone, it is involved in the formation of the pelvis. From it comes a large number of nerves that go from the holes in the pelvic cavity and on the back. In the sacrum, a smooth pelvic surface (or front) and an uneven dorsal (or back) are distinguished. The answer to the question of how many vertebrae a person has in the coccygeal section is ambiguous - their number varies. This department does not matter much. Muscles are attached to it. The coccyx is able to deviate during childbirth in women, thereby increasing the size of the exit from the small pelvis.