Vertebrae: Understanding the Bones of Your Spine

The bony parts of the spine are called vertebrae. The spine, also known as the vertebral column or backbone, is a flexible column of bones that extends from the skull to the pelvis. It is made up of 33 vertebrae, which are stacked one on top of the other to form a tube-like structure that encases and protects the delicate structures of the spinal cord and the nerves that branch off from it.