๐ซ My body and food ๐ช Bones and muscles
The spine
๐ In short
The spine is a chain of small bones down the middle of your back, from your neck to your hips. These bones are called vertebrae, stacked on top of each other like spools. The spine holds up your body and lets you stand straight, bend and twist.
๐คฉ Did you know?
- The human neck has 7 vertebrae, just like a giraffe's neck!
- You're a little taller in the morning than in the evening, because the discs between your vertebrae get squashed during the day.
- Animals with a backbone are called vertebrates.
- The spine has natural curves that make it work like a spring.
๐ Find out more
๐ Lots of vertebrae
Your spine has about 33 vertebrae: seven in the neck, twelve in the chest joined to the ribs, five in the lower back, and the rest fused together at the bottom.
๐ A tube to protect the nerves
In the middle of each vertebra is a hole, and the holes line up to make a tube that the spinal cord runs through, a bundle of nerves carrying messages between the brain and the rest of the body.
๐ก Cushions between the vertebrae
Between every two vertebrae is a soft disc like a cushion, which absorbs shocks when you jump or run and lets your back bend.
๐ฏ Look after your back
Sit up straight, don't carry a very heavy bag on one shoulder, bend your knees when you lift something off the floor, and exercise to strengthen your back muscles.
๐งฉ Test yourself
1 What does the spine protect?
2 How many vertebrae are there in the human neck?
3 The human neck has ?? vertebrae, just like a giraffe's neck!
4 Which picture shows โThe spineโ?