The spinal column, or vertebral column, is made up of small bones “stacked “ one on top of the other. There are usually 33 of these small bones, called vertebrae, in humans. Five of them are fused, or joined together, to form the sacrum and four to form the tailbone, two parts of the lower back. The rest of the vertebrae are separated by soft, spongy discs to make a flexible spine that can bend and twist in many directions.

Examining the spinal column can help scientists know more about the age and health of an individual. As we age, the discs between the vertebrae can flatten leaving spots where bone grinds against bone. This causes wear marks on the individual bones. In addition, injuries and a variety of diseases can affect the condition of the spine.

Health: The spinal column of the skeleton found on La Belle showed signs of wear, probably the result of years of lifting heavy objects while performing his job as a sailor. In addition, the surfaces of several of the individual vertebrae were marked with pits and depressions. This kind of damage occurs when the soft discs between the vertebrae collapse. The spaces where nerves branch off from the spinal cord to go to other parts of the body become smaller, resulting in a pinched nerve. Unusual bone growth in his lower spine had caused one of the vertebra to fuse to the hip bone, causing the man to stand with his hips tilted instead of straight. This sailor probably limped or favored one leg when he walked and suffered constant pain in his back.