How many bones make up the vertebral column?

The vertebral column, also known as the spine, is made up of 33 individual vertebrae in total. These vertebrae are divided into several regions: 7 cervical vertebrae in the neck, 12 thoracic vertebrae in the upper back, 5 lumbar vertebrae in the lower back, 5 sacral vertebrae that are fused to form the sacrum, and 4 coccygeal vertebrae that form the coccyx, or tailbone.

While some options suggest fewer bones, it’s important to remember that the numbers for the sacral and coccygeal regions include vertebrae that are fused together. This might give a varying number when considering only the individual vertebrae that remain unfused. Therefore, the total count of 33 captures the entire structure of the vertebral column accurately, taking into account all regions and types of vertebrae.