The number of vertebra of the vertebral column of man is?

Appeared in: MNS 2015

Explanation

The human vertebral column is composed of a total of 33 individual vertebrae.
This standard count is broken down into five regions: 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal vertebrae.
Although the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae fuse into the sacrum and coccyx in adults, the fundamental anatomical count of vertebrae remains 33.
The question asks for the number of vertebrae, not the number of bones in the adult spine, making 33 the correct choice among the given options.

Option A: This is an incorrect count. It may result from miscounting the number of vertebrae in one of the regions, for instance, counting only 3 coccygeal vertebrae instead of the usual 4.
Option C: This is an incorrect count. While anatomical variations can occur, 34 is not the standard number of vertebrae in humans.
Option D: This is an incorrect count. Although rare variations can result in a different number of vertebrae, 35 is not the standard accepted number.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Anatomy of the human vertebral column as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Knowledge of the vertebral column's structure is essential for accurately locating specific vertebrae for clinical procedures such as lumbar punctures, epidural anesthesia, and spinal surgeries.
Accurate identification of vertebral levels is critical for diagnosing and describing the location of spinal cord injuries, herniated discs, and vertebral fractures.
What if the question asked for the number of bones in the adult vertebral column? The answer would be 26. This is because the 5 sacral vertebrae fuse to form one sacrum, and the 4 coccygeal vertebrae typically fuse to form one coccyx.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question testing basic knowledge of human anatomy.
First, identify the specific anatomical structure mentioned: the vertebral column.
Recall the standard number of individual vertebrae that compose the spine before any age-related fusion.
Differentiate between the initial number of vertebrae (33) and the number of bones in the adult spine after fusion (26).
Examine the given options. Since 26 is not an option, the question is asking for the total count of individual vertebrae.
Select the option that matches the standard anatomical count of 33.

Concept Tested & Keywords

QY_gRhpF3tMqDW20e_cC_A

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 288-290

E6 Anatomy Grays 43e Vol 2 Part 2 p. 5-7

Practise the full MNS 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.