The vertebral column is composed of 33 vertebrae:
- 7 cervical vertebrae: C1 - C7
- 12 thoracic vertebrae: T1 - T12
- 5 lumbar vertebrae: L1 - L5
- 5 fused vertebrae: the sacrum
- 4 fused vertebrae: the coccyx.

We are going to look first at the general structure of a vertebra. Next we will learn how to distinguish the different types of vertebrae as well as the sacrum and the coccyx.