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vertebral column
the rigid bony structure in the midline of the back, composed of the vertebrae, usually 24 in number. It is the axis of the skeleton; the skull and limbs are in a sense appendages. The vertebrae also provide the protective bony corridor (spinal canal) through which the spinal cord passes; they can move to a certain extent and so give flexibility to the vertebral column, allowing it to bend forward, sideways
and, to a lesser extent, backward. In the areas of the neck and lower back, the column can also pivot, which allows the turning
of the head and trunk. Called also spine.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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