The human vertebral column is typically composed of 33 vertebrae in total, divided into five regions:
- 7 cervical vertebrae (neck)
- 12 thoracic vertebrae (upper back/chest)
- 5 lumbar vertebrae (lower back)
- 5 sacral vertebrae (fused to form the sacrum)
- 4 coccygeal vertebrae (fused to form the coccyx or tailbone)
These vertebrae make up the axial skeleton and are separated by intervertebral discs in the articulating regions
. In adults, the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae are fused, so while there are 33 vertebrae at birth, the number of individual movable vertebrae is about 24. Variations exist, with the total number ranging between 32 to 35 in some individuals due to differences in the lumbar, thoracic, or coccygeal vertebrae counts
. Thus, the standard count is 33 vertebrae, but functional vertebrae (non- fused) are generally 24 in adults.
