Custom Search
Human Body > II. Osteology > The Vertebral Column
3. The Vertebral Column
(Columna Vertebralis; Spinal Column). The vertebral column is a flexuous and flexible column, formed of a series of bones called vertebræ. |
| The vertebræ are thirty-three in number, and are grouped under the names cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal, according to the regions they occupy; there are seven in the cervical region, twelve in the thoracic, five in the lumbar, five in the sacral, and four in the coccygeal. |
| This number is sometimes increased by an additional vertebra in one region, or it may be diminished in one region, the deficiency often being supplied by an additional vertebra in another. The number of cervical vertebræ is, however, very rarely increased or diminished. |
| The vertebræ in the upper three regions of the column remain distinct throughout life, and are known as true or movable vertebræ; those of the sacral and coccygeal regions, on the other hand, are termed false or fixed vertebræ, because they are united with one another in the adult to form two bones—five forming the upper bone or sacrum, and four the terminal bone or coccyx. |
| With the exception of the first and second cervical, the true or movable vertebræ present certain common characteristics which are best studied by examining one from the middle of the thoracic region. |
<< PREVIOUS
NEXT >>
Human Body > II. Osteology > The Vertebral Column
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Embryology
II. Osteology
III. Syndesmology
IV. Myology
V. Angiology
VI. The Arteries
VII. The Veins
VIII. The Lymphatic System
IX. Neurology
X. The Organs of the Senses and the Common Integument
XI. Splanchnology
XII. Surface Anatomy and Surface Markings
BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
SUBJECT INDEX