What are the individual bones that make up the spine?

• A. Radius
• B. Vertebrae
• C. Ulna
• D. Scapula

Answer: (B)

Vertebrae are the individual bones that make up the spine. The spine, or vertebral column, is a stack of vertebrae separated by intervertebral discs that cushion movement and allow flexibility. Each vertebra has a weight-bearing body at the front and a vertebral arch at the back that forms a protective canal for the spinal cord, along with various processes for muscle and ligament attachment. This arrangement both protects the spinal cord and provides structural support to stand, bend, and move. In adults, the typical count is 26 vertebrae: seven in the neck, twelve in the upper and mid back, five in the lower back, plus the sacrum and coccyx fused together. The radius, ulna, and scapula are bones of the arm and shoulder, not the spine.