Uploaded April 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
10 Important Spine Facts
1.The human spine is very flexible because it has over 120 muscles attached to it.
2.The word "spine" is from the Proto-Indo-European root *spei-, meaning "sharp point," and is related to the word "spike."
3.Poor spinal posture while sitting on the toilet can lead to constipation. Hunching over with the feet lower than the hips can close the anus and make it more difficult for abdominal muscles to move feces out.
4.The average spinal cord weighs around 35 grams.
5.Cervical vertebrae are sometimes called Atlas vertebrae, in reference to the Greek mythological figure who was burdened with carrying the world on his shoulders.
6. Relative to body size, the spine of a Thor's hero shrew is stronger than that of any other vertebrate. Its unique corrugated spine can withstand the weight of a full-grown man, which is the equivalent of a human supporting the weight of a space shuttle.
7. Humans have about 33 vertebrae and 24 ribs. Snakes have between 200–400 vertebrae with as many ribs.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons: dbking
8.The spinal cord can function independently of the brain and can send messages directly to muscles.
9.Less than 5% of known animal species are vertebrates.
10.Because a sloth spends most of its time hanging upside down in trees, its spine is curved to support weight from below rather than above. That’s why its belly drags on the ground and one reason it is so slow.
Check out our article for more interesting Spine facts: 27 Spine Facts You May Not Know: factretriever.com/spine-facts
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10 Important Spine Facts
1.The human spine is very flexible because it has over 120 muscles attached to it.
2.The word "spine" is from the Proto-Indo-European root *spei-, meaning "sharp point," and is related to the word "spike."
3.Poor spinal posture while sitting on the toilet can lead to constipation. Hunching over with the feet lower than the hips can close the anus and make it more difficult for abdominal muscles to move feces out.
4.The average spinal cord weighs around 35 grams.
5.Cervical vertebrae are sometimes called Atlas vertebrae, in reference to the Greek mythological figure who was burdened with carrying the world on his shoulders.
6. Relative to body size, the spine of a Thor's hero shrew is stronger than that of any other vertebrate. Its unique corrugated spine can withstand the weight of a full-grown man, which is the equivalent of a human supporting the weight of a space shuttle.
7. Humans have about 33 vertebrae and 24 ribs. Snakes have between 200–400 vertebrae with as many ribs.
Photo Credit: Creative Commons: dbking
8.The spinal cord can function independently of the brain and can send messages directly to muscles.
9.Less than 5% of known animal species are vertebrates.
10.Because a sloth spends most of its time hanging upside down in trees, its spine is curved to support weight from below rather than above. That’s why its belly drags on the ground and one reason it is so slow.
Check out our article for more interesting Spine facts: 27 Spine Facts You May Not Know: factretriever.com/spine-facts
Don't forget to subscribe to our channel for more amazing facts: youtube.com/channel/UCZxmYOAglFN29DPr7mEaDLQ
