The series of bones and discs that surround and support the spinal cord in the back are collectively referred to as the spinal column.

The spinal column is made up of 33 vertebrae that are named in groups according to the anatomical regions they occupy: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. There are seven cervical vertebrae (C1-C7), twelve thoracic (T1-T12), five lumber (L1-L5), five sacral (S1-S5), and four coccygeal..

The typical vertebra consists of two parts: an anterior segment called the body and a posterior segment comprised of a central spinous process and two laterally projecting transverse processes.

Figure 1: Anatomical regions of the spinal column.
Figure 2: Parts of a vertebra.
Figure 3: Parts of the spinal cord.