Describe the five categories of the vertebral column.

The five categories of vertebral column are:

Explanation:

The 26 vertebrae of the spine or vertebral column are classified into five categories based on the structural differences between them. The first category is cervical and is made of seven cervical vertebrae. The spines of cervical vertebrae are shorter than that of others and have bifurcations.  

The next category is the thoracic and is made of twelve thoracic vertebrae. Thoracic vertebrae are followed by lumbar region made up of 5 lumbar vertebrae. Spines of thoracic vertebrae are longer and are directed downwards while that of the lumbar vertebrae project towards the posterior region. the sacrum is present below the lumbar region and consists of five fused sacral vertebrae. The last category of spine is coccyx. It has four fused coccygeal vertebrae.