Final answer:
The spinal column is made up of 33 separate and irregularly shaped vertebrae that connect the trunk with the skull and enclose the spinal cord.
Step-by-step explanation:
The spinal column, also known as the vertebral column or spine, is made up of 33 vertebrae. These vertebrae are separate and irregularly shaped bones that connect the trunk with the skull and enclose the spinal cord. The vertebral column consists of five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal. From the neck down, the first 24 vertebrae (cervical, thoracic, and lumbar) are individual bones, while the remaining vertebrae are fused together.