stature, height, spine
脊 centers on the central structural line of the body: the spine or backbone. The meanings of stature and height extend naturally from the spine as the body's vertical support.
脊 is thought to combine 肉 (flesh, simplified to 月) with a phonetic element representing the spine. The exact historical development of the upper component is uncertain.
The bottom 月 (flesh) supports the stacked upper part, like vertebrae stacked along the spine. Picture the whole character as a backbone giving the body stature and height.
For セキ, imagine a tall person's spine being measured with a ruler marked in sections: each section (セキ) of the spine adds to their stature.
spinal cord
spine; vertebral column; spinal column; backbone
spinal column; vertebral column; spine
vertebrate; vertebrates; vertebrata
spina bifida
spina bifida
ankylosing spondylitis
acute disseminated encephalomyelitis; ADEM
Spina Bifida Association of Japan
invertebrate; invertebrates; invertebrata
myalgic encephalomyelitis; ME
scoliosis
lordosis
kyphosis
spinal canal
spinal canal stenosis
mountain range; mountain backbone
Pott's disease; vertebral tuberculosis; spinal caries
scoliosis
Vertebrata