Question

In fetuses and infants, the vertebral column consists of _____ bones; however, the adult vertebral column consists of only ___bones. Explain the reason for this difference.

a) 33, 26
b) 24, 33
c) 26, 33
d) 34,26

Answer 1

The vertebral column changes from 33 bones in fetuses and infants to 26 bones in adults because some vertebrae fuse during growth and development.

Step-by-step explanation:

In fetuses and infants, the vertebral column consists of approximately 33 bones; however, the adult vertebral column consists of only 26 bones. The reason for this difference is that during development, several vertebrae fuse. As adults, we have 24 vertebrae plus the sacrum and the coccyx, with the sacrum made from the fusion of five vertebrae and the coccyx typically from the fusion of three to four vertebrae. This fusion reduces the total number of separate bones.

The vertebral column consists of 33 bones in fetuses and infants, but in adults, it consists of 26 bones. The reason for this difference is that as we grow, several vertebrae fuse to form larger bones. In the adult vertebral column, the sacrum is typically composed of five vertebrae that fuse into one, and the coccyx is typically 3-4 vertebrae that fuse into one. This fusion reduces the number of individual bones in the vertebral column.