Page 10 - Human anatomy COMPLETELY DONE1
P. 10
SPINE
The spine is the basis of the skeleton of the trunk. It consists of 33-34
vertebrae(figure 5). Each vertebra consists of a body and appendages (figure 4).
The arches of each vertebra close and form a vertebral opening. The vertebral
openings of different vertebrae are located on top of each other and form the spinal
canal in which the spinal cord passes.
Figure 4. Vertebra
The vertebral bodies are connected to each other semi-movably through
cartilaginous intervertebral discs and are held by numerous ligaments. Thanks to this
connection, most of the spine is elastic and flexible.
There are the following divisions in the spine: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral
and coccygeal. The lower the vertebra is located in the spine, the greater the load on it
and the more massive its body.
The seven upper vertebrae form the cervical spine. The uppermost cervical
vertebra – Atlas has no body, and its arches have fused with the bones of the base of
the skull.
10
