Question

Total number of vertebrae in man is
A. 30
B. 33
C. 40
D. 35

Answer 1

Hint: Our spinal cord has been formed by several irregular bones composed of bone and cartilage. These bones interlock themselves thus forming a long column like structure. These bones are collectively known as Vertebrae and the animals possessing them are Vertebrates.

Complete Answer:
- The central axis of skeletons in all vertebrates is the vertebral or spinal column.
- It acts as an “add-on” for the muscles in the back. It even shields the spinal cord and provides a site for haemopoiesis (production of blood cells).
- The vertebral column of vertebrates has been divided into five morphologically different groups of vertebrae. They are - cervical vertebrae, thoracic vertebrae, lumbar vertebrae, sacral vertebrae and coccygeal vertebrae.
- As long as we consider the skeleton system in human bodies, the distribution of vertebra in the spinal column is such that there are 7 vertebrae in the cervical group, 12 in the thoracic group, 5 in the lumbar group, 5 in the sacral group and 4 vertebrae in the coccygeal group thus 33 vertebrae in total.

Hence, we can say that in human bodies there are all total 33 vertebrae in the vertebral column.

Note: In vertebrates, the back part of their bodies is characterised by the region between the neck and the torso. It comprises the spinal column and attached muscles. There are two sections of back muscles. They are- Extrinsic (external) muscles and Intrinsic (internal)muscles.