Spinal Column

skeleton · bones · nerves

Stack of bones. Your spinal column is made of 33 small bones called vertebrae stacked on top of each other like a tower of blocks. These bones are separated by squishy discs that act like cushions between them.

Protects your cord. Inside your spine is a hollow tunnel called the spinal canal that holds your spinal cord, which is like a super important information highway carrying messages between your brain and your body. The bones of your spine wrap around it to keep it safe from damage.

Nerves branch out. Tiny nerve branches poke out from your spinal cord through openings between the vertebrae and spread out to every part of your body. These nerves let your brain talk to your muscles so you can move, and they help you feel sensations like touch and temperature.

Helps you move. Your spinal column is segmented, meaning it has different sections that can bend and twist in different ways. This design lets you reach down to touch your toes, turn your head around, and do all sorts of amazing stretches.

Makes you vertebrate. All animals with backbones, from tiny fish to huge whales to you, have a spinal column. This is what makes them vertebrates, and your spine is the superstar feature that defines this whole group of animals.