Prepare for the North Carolina EMT State Exam with interactive quizzes and comprehensive explanations. Master your skills and gain confidence by reviewing key topics before test day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


How many vertebrae are in the lumbar section of the spinal column?

  1. 7 vertebrae

  2. 12 vertebrae

  3. 5 vertebrae

  4. 4 vertebrae

The correct answer is: 5 vertebrae

The lumbar section of the spinal column contains five vertebrae. This region is located in the lower back, between the thoracic vertebrae (which are the twelve vertebrae in the mid-back) and the sacral region (which consists of five fused vertebrae). The lumbar vertebrae are designated as L1 through L5 and are larger and more robust than those in other spinal regions, as they bear much of the body's weight and provide support for a range of movements. Understanding the structure and number of lumbar vertebrae is essential for recognizing the importance of this area in terms of mobility and injury risk, as it is a common site for back pain and related disorders. In anatomy, it's crucial to have a grasp of the specific number of vertebrae in each section to comprehend how the spine supports the body overall.