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Skeletal System

Axial Skeleton

How are the 26 bones of the vertebral column distributed?

The vertebral column is divided into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.

Region Number of Bones Location
Cervical 7 Neck region
Thoracic 12 Chest area
Lumbar 5 Small of the back
Sacral 1 fused bone in adults; 5 individual bones at birth Below lumbar region
Coccygeal 1 fused bone in adults; 3–5 individual bones at birth Below sacrum