![]() ![]() Even the giraffe with its incredibly long neck has the same number of cervical vertebrae as you and me. Regarding the numbers of vertebrae in different regions, the most stable is the neck, with the vast majority of mammals having seven cervical vertebrae. It is the battle between these that in bipeds like us often ends in back pain. A back walks a delicate balance between two seemingly incongruent functions-strength to provide support and flexibility to allow movement. These five types are readily distinguished from each other, with their structure reflective of their function and position within the spine or vertebral column. These are neck (cervical) vertebrae supporting the head, thoracic vertebrae anchoring the ribcage, lumbar vertebrae with the abdomen, sacral vertebrae with the pelvis, and caudal vertebrae with the tail. A typical mammalian back shows five regional variants or types of vertebrae. This is the reason why animals with vertebrae, such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals, are called vertebrates. For marine mammals (whales, seals, and walruses), the tail is the major propulsive organ for swimming.īut what is in a tail? Your back is made of a series of small bones stacked together called vertebra (plural is vertebrae). ![]() Some mammals have a prehensile tail, which acts like a fifth appendage and is used in grasping, supporting, or in the case of a spider monkey even swinging from a tree branch. Cows and horses use their tails to swat flies. ![]() It is used for communication, more so by your dog, expressing a broad range of emotions by its action or lack thereof. It acts as a counterbalance for your cat in executing amazing leaps and bounds. Those with pet dogs or cats at home are familiar with what a mammal’s tail can do. ![]()
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