The spine has three major sections: the cervical spine (from the base of the skull and through the neck), the thoracic spine (the center of the spinal column), and the lumbar spine (the lower back). Each section is made up of interlocking bones called vertebrae, which are separated by round fibrous discs (cartilage) that cushion each bone. Nerves pass through the spinal canal, a large passage that runs through the center of the connected vertebrae.

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