The spinal column (or vertebral column) extends from the skull to the pelvis and is made up of 33 individual bones termed vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other group into four regions:
Term
# of Vertebrae
Body Area
Body Area Abbreviation
Cervical
7
Neck
C1 - C7
Thoraci
12
Chest
T1 - T12
Lumbar
5 or 6
Low Back
L1 - L5
Sacrum
5 (fused)
Pelvis
S1 - S5
Coccyx
3
Tailbone
None
The cervical spine is further divided into two parts; the upper cervical region (C1 and C2), and the lower cervical region (C3 through C7). C1 is termed the Atlas and C2 the Axis. The Occiput (CO), also known as the Occipital Bone, is a flat bone that forms the back of the head.
