The bones that make up the spinal column are called vertebrae, They are also named for their locations. The cervical vertebrae are in the neck, the thoracic vertebrae are in the upper back, and the lumbar vertebrae are in the lower back. The bones at the bottom of your spinal column called the sacrum and the coccyx make up your tailbone. Experiencing back pain usually means you have injured the ligaments or muscles attached to the vertebrae, Common causes include twisting motions, poor posture, and overuse.