2. General Characteristics

Question 1

What is the number of vertebrae in a typical adolescent?

Answer 1

33 segments

Question 2

What is the number of vertebrae in a typical adult?

Answer 2

26 segments

Question 3

What is the number of vertebrae in a typical spine?

Answer 3

24 segments

Question 4

What constitutes the spine?

Answer 4

the 24 presacral segments; the cervical, thoracic and lumbar vertebrae

Question 5

How many segments unite to form the typical sacrum?

Answer 5

5 segments

Question 6

How many segments unite to form the typical coccyx?

Answer 6

4 segments

Question 7

Which mammals do not have seven cervical vertebrae?

Answer 7

the two toed sloth, manatee, ant bear, and three toed sloth

Question 8

Which mammals have more than seven cervical vertebrae?

Answer 8

ant bear and three toed sloth

Question 9

Which mammals have less than seven cervical vertebrae?

Answer 9

the manatee and two toed sloth

Question 10

What does the term “cervical” refer to?

Answer 10

the region of the neck

Question 11

What does the term “thoracic” refer to?

Answer 11

breast plate or chest; it referred to the armor bearing region of the torso

Question 12

What other term is often used to identify the vertebral segments of the chest?

Answer 12

the dorsal segments; the dorsals

Question 13

What is the typical number of segments in the dorsal or thoracic region?

Answer 13

12 segments

Question 14

What does the term “lumbar” refer to?

Answer 14

the loin; the region between the rib and the hip

Question 15

What is the typical number of segments in the lumbar region?

Answer 15

5 segments

Question 16

What does the term “sacrum” refer to?

Answer 16

the holy bone or holy region

Question 17

What does the term “coccyx” refer to?

Answer 17

a cuckoo birds’ bill or cuckoo birds’ beak