The individual bones that make up the spinal column, totaling 33 bones (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 fused sacral, and 4 fused coccygeal). Each vertebra has a body, arch, and processes that protect the spinal cord and provide attachment points for muscles.
From Latin 'vertebra' meaning joint or articulation, from 'vertere' (to turn). The name reflects the ability of these bones to allow the spine to bend and rotate while maintaining structural integrity.
Each vertebra is perfectly engineered - the body bears weight like a cylinder, while the arch protects your spinal cord like armor, and the processes stick out like handles for muscle attachments! The entire stack can support over 1000 pounds of weight while still allowing you to touch your toes, thanks to the intervertebral discs acting as shock absorbers.
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