Life and Health 



lower part of the spine. The great 

 nervous organ, known as the spinal cord, < 

 together with some of the nerves which $ 

 are attached to .it, extends from the (J 

 cranium through the entire length of 

 this canal. 



Between the vertebrae are pads, or 

 cushions of cartilage. These act as 

 "buffers," and serve to give the spine 

 strength and elasticity and to prevent 

 friction of one bone on another. They 

 also serve to break the effect of shock 

 to the brain and the spinal cord from 

 any sudden jar or injury of the limbs or 

 the trunk. 



45. The Sacrum and Coccyx. The 

 spinal column rests on a strong mass of 

 bone called the sacrum, or sacred-bone. 

 It is composed of five vertebrae 

 joined together, and is wedged in 

 between the hip bones, forming the 

 keystone of the pelvis. It is not 

 easy to say why this bone was called 

 "sacred." The reason generally 

 assigned is that it was used in 

 olden times in sacrifices. 



Experiment 13. Run the tips of the 

 fingers briskly down the backbone, and 

 the spines of the vertebrae will be tipped 

 with red so that they can be readily 

 counted. Have the model lean forward 

 with the arms folded across the chest ; 

 this will make the spines of the vertebrae 

 more prominent. 



COCCYX 



FIG. 18. 

 The Spinal Column. 



