How many coccygeal vertebrae, commonly referred to as the tailbone, does the average human have?

The average human has one coccygeal vertebra, which is commonly called the tailbone. This vertebra is typically composed of a fused structure of several vertebrae at the base of the spine. While the coccyx can vary in the number of fused segments—ranging from 3 to 5 vertebrae—it generally counts as one distinct anatomical entity in terms of function and identification.

The coccyx serves as an attachment point for various muscles, tendons, and ligaments, playing a critical role in supporting the pelvic floor and maintaining posture while sitting. Despite the variations in the number of vertebral segments, the standard reference counts the coccyx itself as a singular bone in the human anatomy, thus making the answer of one the most accurate representation of the tailbone.