The spinal column in a typical adult consists of how many bones?

The spinal column in a typical adult consists of how many bones?

• A. 33 bones
• B. 26 bones
• C. 42 bones
• D. 80 bones

Answer: (A)

Counting bones in the adult spine hinges on how the vertebrae fuse as you mature. An adult spine has 24 movable vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar) plus the sacrum and coccyx, each a single bone formed by fusion of several vertebrae. So the total is 24 + 1 + 1 = 26 bones. At birth there are about 33 vertebrae, but fusion reduces the count to 26 in adulthood.

Counting bones in the adult spine hinges on how the vertebrae fuse as you mature. An adult spine has 24 movable vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar) plus the sacrum and coccyx, each a single bone formed by fusion of several vertebrae. So the total is 24 + 1 + 1 = 26 bones. At birth there are about 33 vertebrae, but fusion reduces the count to 26 in adulthood.