Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How many vertebrae are in the human vertebral column before the sacrum and coccyx are counted?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
skeleton
Selected vertebrate skeletons.
In the human vertebral column, there are 24 vertebrae before reaching the sacrum and coccyx. These consist of the following regions:
- Cervical vertebrae: 71
- Thoracic vertebrae: 121
- Lumbar vertebrae: 51
Together, these 24 individual bones form the flexible portion of the spine, while the sacrum and coccyx are composed of fused vertebrae.1