spine

the bony and slightly flexible column that forms a vital part of the SKELETON . It encloses the SPINAL CORD , articulates with other BONES , e.g. the SKULL and RIBS , and provides attachments for MUSCLES . It consists of bones, the VERTEBRAE , between which are discs of fibrocartilage (the INTERVERTEBRAL DISCS ). From the top, the column comprises 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal vertebrae. In adults the last two groups are fused to from the SACRUM and COCCYX respectively.