Wikijunior:Human Body/Spine

Can you live without a spine?

No, you can't live without a spine. The spine made up of many vertebrae, which are special types of bones, arranged in a column. In fact, to be a vertebrate, you must have a spine. Without one, your body would be drastically different, for example, octopuses don't have spines.

What does the spine look like?

The spine cannot be directly viewed from the outside, but it can be felt. Just put your fingers along your back! If you look at a complete spine, it is a curved column composed of vertebrae.

What are the parts of the spine?

There are 33 vertebrae, divided into seven "cervical", or neck, vertebrae, twelve "dorsal", or mid-body, vertebrae, five "lumbar", or lower back, vertebrae, and five "sacral", even lower than lumbar, vertebrae, and finally four "coccygeal", or tail, vertebrae. The vertebrae of each are slightly different, but they all have the same basic parts.

What is the function of the spine?

The spine supports the back and skull. It protects your nervous system, and deep inside it generates the components for your body's defense system.

How does the spine interact with other parts of the body?

How can you keep your spine healthy?

The spine is protected by bone. If it is broken, you won't be able to move any part of your body lower than the point of breakage, since it protects the "spinal cord", a bundle of nerve fibers. Without nerve fibers, your brain can't tell that part of the body to move. That's why the spine is so important!