How many total bones are in the spinal column?

The spinal column, also known as the vertebral column or spine, is composed of a total of 33 bones. These bones are categorized into different regions: the cervical vertebrae (7), thoracic vertebrae (12), lumbar vertebrae (5), sacral vertebrae (5 fused into 1 sacrum), and coccygeal vertebrae (4 fused into 1 coccyx).

It's important to note that while some sources may refer to the total number of individual vertebrae as 24, this count does not include the fused sacral and coccygeal bones, which are integral parts of the spine's structure. Therefore, understanding the total number of bones in the spinal column is key when discussing the anatomy of the human body and its protective functions for the spinal cord.