The vertebral column is made up of 26 bones that provide axial
support to the trunk. The vertebral column provides protection to
the spinal cord, which runs through its central cavity. Between
each vertebra is an intervertebral disk, which acts as a shock
absorber.
Review Date: 12/23/2010
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, MD, Editor-in-Chief, Associate Professor of Medicine,
Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
