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The human vertebral column is the vertebral column (backbone or spine) of the human skeleton, consisting of 24 articulating vertebrae and 9 fused vertebrae in the sacrum and the coccyx. The vertebrae in the column are separated from each other by intervertebral discs. It houses and protects the spinal cord in its spinal canal. There are normally thirty-three vertebrae; the upper twenty-four are articulating and separated from each other by intervertebral discs, and the lower nine are fused in adults, five in the sacrum and four in the coccyx or ''tailbone''. The articulating vertebrae are named according to their region of the spine. There are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae and five lumbar vertebrae. The number of vertebrae in a region can vary but overall the number remains the same. The number of those in the cervical region however is only rarely changed. There are ligaments extending the length of the column at the front and the back, and in between the vertebrae joining the spinous processes, the transverse processes and the vertebral laminae. ==Structure== The human vertebral column consists of 33 vertebrae. These are divided into different regions, which correspond to the curves of the spinal column. These regions are called the cervical spine, thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacrum and coccyx. There are a total of 33 vertebrae in the vertebral column. The articulating vertebrae are named according to their region of the spine. There are seven cervical vertebrae, twelve thoracic vertebrae and five lumbar vertebrae. Vertebrae in these regions are essentially alike, with minor variation. The number of vertebrae in a region can vary but overall the number remains the same. The number of those in the cervical region however is only rarely changed.〔 Individual vertebrae are named according to their region and position. From top to bottom, the vertebrae are: *Cervical spine: 7 vertebrae (C1–C7) *Thoracic spine: 12 vertebrae (T1–T12) *Lumbar spine: 5 vertebrae (L1–L5) *Sacrum: 5 (fused) vertebrae (S1–S5) *Coccyx: 4 (3–5) (fused) vertebrae (Tailbone) 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Human vertebral column」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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