The spine, or backbone, is a long column of bones that runs down the center of a person’s back. It is essential for many functions, such as movement, support, and protecting the spinal cord. A ...

The human skeletal system consists of all of the bones, cartilage, tendons, and ligaments in the body. Altogether, the skeleton makes up about 20 percent of a person’s body weight. An adult’s skeleton ...

It has long been known that the identity of each vertebra is due to the activation of a class of genes called "Hox." Now, researchers in Portugal show that besides determining the identity of the ...

The spinal cord is a long bundle of nerves and cells that extends from the lower portion of the brain to the lower back. Spinal cord functions include carrying signals between the brain and the rest ...