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Typically there are 7 vertebrae in the neck called cervical vertebrae. They are commonly called C1-C7. The first cervical vertebra is also called the atlas, and the second, the axis. Typically there are twelve thoracic vertebrae to which the ribs attach. Typically there are five lumbar vertebrae in the lower back. Caudal ('toward the tail' or below in the standing position) to the lumbar vertebrae is the sacrum. Caudal the the sacrum is the coccyx. It is often called the tailbone. Commonly, the coccyx is formed by two or three segments. Many people have a sixth lumbar vertebra which is usually a part of the sacrum which did not fuse to the other segments of the sacrum during development. Sometimes a vertebra, usually a thoracic vertebra, fully develops on only one side, so one might say there are 12 vertebrae on one side, and 11 on the other. That is called a hemivertebra. Sometimes 2 vertebrae are fused together, making one bone instead of two.

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16y ago

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