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Biology Question 91 – NEET-UG 2026

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The number of vertebrae in a human is _______.

The human vertebral column is a crucial part of the axial skeleton, providing support and protection for the spinal cord.

🥷
Ninja Strategy•Factual Recall and Magnitude Check

Quickly eliminate options that represent only a segment of the vertebral column or the entire skeleton, focusing on the correct total count for an adult.

Step 1: Recall the structure of the human vertebral column✦ Active

The human vertebral column, or backbone, is composed of individual bones called vertebrae. In an adult, these vertebrae are grouped into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.

Step 2: Identify the number of vertebrae in each region in an adult○ Expand

The typical number of vertebrae in each region for an adult human is:

- Cervical vertebrae: 7

- Thoracic vertebrae: 12

- Lumbar vertebrae: 5

- Sacrum: 1 (formed by the fusion of 5 sacral vertebrae)

- Coccyx: 1 (formed by the fusion of 4 coccygeal vertebrae)

💡 Teacher's Secret Hint

Remember that the sacrum and coccyx are counted as single fused bones in adults, not as individual embryonic vertebrae.

Step 3: Calculate the total number of vertebrae○ Expand

Summing the number of vertebrae from each region gives the total number of vertebrae in an adult human:

7+12+5+1+1=26
✦ STEM Console utilizes AI models to generate step-by-step explanations and math clues. AI can make mistakes.