-Includes the Cervical(7), Thoracic (12), Lumbar (5), Sacral(5 fused), and coccygeal (3 or 4 fused bones) regions
-Articulates with the occipital condyles and the pelvis
-Intervertebral discs separate/cushion most vertebrae except C1, C2, and the fused vertebrae of the coccygeal and sacral region.