vertebra

American  

[vur-tuh-bruh] / ˈvɜr tə brə /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

PLURAL

vertebrae, vertebras

1. any of the bones or segments composing the spinal column, consisting typically of a cylindrical body and an arch with various processes, and forming a foramen, or opening, through which the spinal cord passes.

---

vertebra British  

/ ˈvɜːtɪbrə /

noun

1. one of the bony segments of the spinal column

---

vertebra Scientific  

/ vûr′tə-brə /

PLURAL

vertebrae

1. Any of the bones that make up the vertebral column. Each vertebra contains an arched, hollow section through which the spinal cord passes. In humans, the vertebrae are divided into cervical, thoracic, and lumbar sections, and the sacrum and coccyx are both made up of a series of fused vertebrae. The vertebrae are separated by cartilaginous intervertebral disks.

2. See more at skeleton

---

Other Word Forms

• vertebral adjective
• vertebrally adverb

Etymology

Origin of vertebra

1570–80; < Latin: (spinal) joint, equivalent to verte ( re ) to turn ( verse ) + -bra noun suffix

Example Sentences

Over the hips, this structure shifted into a single row of spikes along the tail, with each spike aligned above a vertebra and fitting neatly with its neighbors.

From Science Daily

Among the most remarkable discoveries are several huge vertebrae that indicate the presence of a very large lamniform shark.

From Science Daily

The then-24-year-old landed on his head, authorities said, breaking vertebrae in his neck and spine and leaving him mostly immobile from the chest down.

From Washington Post

A single palm-size vertebra, its central lacuna heart-shaped, had us wondering about its origin story.

From New York Times

On a recent night on-site, reminiscing was the special of the day for those seated at the bar with its sundry treasure: model ships, a whale’s vertebrae, a dehydrated puffer fish.

From Seattle Times