What type of bone is a vertebra an example of?
Irregular Bones Have Complex Shapes They often have a fairly complex shape, which helps protect internal organs. For example, the vertebrae, irregular bones of the vertebral column, protect the spinal cord.
What is a vertebra bone?
Vertebrae. Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that interlock with each other to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (Fig. 2). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused.
Is vertebrae a long bone?
The long bones of the human leg comprise nearly half of adult height. The other primary skeletal component of height are the vertebrae and skull. The outside of the bone consists of a layer of connective tissue called the periosteum.
How are vertebrae classified?
The vertebrae are divided into three regions: cervical C1–C7 vertebrae, thoracic T1–T12 vertebrae, and lumbar L1–L5 vertebrae. The vertebral column is curved, with two primary curvatures (thoracic and sacrococcygeal curves) and two secondary curvatures (cervical and lumbar curves).
What is the difference between vertebra and vertebrae?
• Vertebra is a single bone while vertebrae are the collection of all those vertebral bones together. In other words, one vertebra is the basic building unit of the vertebrae or the backbone. • Vertebra is very small compared to vertebrae.
What are bones in the vertebrae?
The sacral region (bottom of the spine) Below the lumbar spine is a bone called the sacrum, which makes up the back part of the pelvis. This bone is shaped like a triangle that fits between the two halves of the pelvis, connecting the spine to the lower half of the body.
What are the sections of the vertebrae?
The human spine or vertebral column is composed of individual vertebrae, sections of bone that house the spinal cord, separated by soft jelly discs. There are five sections in the vertebral column – cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (or tailbone).
What are vertebrae numbers?
Vertebrae are the 33 individual bones that interlock with each other to form the spinal column. The vertebrae are numbered and divided into regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacrum, and coccyx (Fig. 2). Only the top 24 bones are moveable; the vertebrae of the sacrum and coccyx are fused.