Divisions of the Back

(4) sacrum

, is the fourth segment of the spinal column. This single, triangular-shaped bone is a result of the fusion of the five individual sacral bones in the child.

(5) coccyx (COCK-siks)

It is located at the very end of the vertebral column and is also called the tailbone. The adult coccyx is a single bone that is the result of the fusion of the four individual coccygeal bones in the child.

3) lumbar vertebrae

consist of five large segments of the movable part of the spinal column. Identified as L1 through L5, the lumbar vertebrae are the largest and strongest of the vertebrae of the spinal column.

(1) Cervical vertebrae

consisting of the first seven segments of the spinal column, make up the bones of the neck (cervic/o = neck). The abbreviations for the cervical vertebrae range from C1 to C7.

2) thoracic vertebrae

consisting of the next 12 segments (or vertebrae of the spinal column) make up the vertebral bones of the chest (thorac/o = chest or thorax). The abbreviations for the thoracic vertebrae range from T1 to T12.