backbone

backbone: see spinal column.

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vertebral column

 or spinal column or spine or backbone

Flexible column extending the length of the torso. In humans, it consists of 32–34 vertebrae, with different shapes and functions in each of five regions: 7 cervical, in the neck (including the atlas and axis, modified for free movement of the skull); 12 thoracic, in the chest; 5 lumbar, in the lower back; 5 sacral (fused into the sacrum, part of the pelvic girdle); and 3 to 5 coccygeal (vestigial tailbones fused into the coccyx). The body of each vertebra is separated from its neighbours by cushioning intervertebral disks of cartilage. Behind the body is a Y-shaped vertebral (neural) arch with structures extending up and down to form joints with the adjacent vertebrae and to the back and sides to provide attachment points for muscles and ligaments. The spine supports the torso and protects the spinal cord.

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backbone

The part of a network that handles the major traffic. It employs the highest-speed transmission paths in the network and may also run the longest distances. Smaller networks are attached to the backbone, and networks that directly connect to the end user or customer are called "access networks."

A backbone can span a geographic area of any size from a single building to an office complex to an entire country. Or, it can be as small as a backplane in a single cabinet. See collapsed backbone and ISP.

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backbone

1. a nontechnical name for spinal column

2. the main or central mountain range of a country or region

3. Nautical the main longitudinal members of a vessel, giving structural strength

4. Computing (in computer networks) a large-capacity, high-speed central section by which other network segments are connected

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backbone [′bak‚bōn]

(anatomy)

spine

(computer science)

The portion of a communication network that handles the largest volume of traffic, usually employing a high-speed, high-capacity medium designed to transmit data over long distances.

(geology)

A ridge forming the principal axis of a mountain.

The principal mountain ridge, range, or system of a region.

(graphic arts)

spine

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(networking)

backbone - The top level in a hierarchical network. Stub networks and transit networks which connect to the same backbone are guaranteed to be interconnected. See also: Internet backbone.