The vertebral column as seen from the side

A typical thoracic vertebra viewed from above. The unlabeled hole in the middle will form the Spinal canal

An MRI of the human spine. The part in blue is the spinal canal. It also shows that one vertebra has been broken (L-3), which means that the spinal cord is compressed at one point (L-3,L-4 impingement) .

The spine is a column of vertebrae in the back part of the torso (upper body). It is also called the backbone or vertebral column. There is a spinal canal that runs through the length of the spine. Inside this canal is the spinal cord. Animals that have a spine are called vertebrates, and animals that do not have one are called invertebrates. Humans have a spine, so we are vertebrates. Many vertebrates, including mammals, have intervertebral discs separating the vertebrae.