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.

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vertebra British  

/ ˈvɜːtɪbrə /

noun

1. one of the bony segments of the spinal column

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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

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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

Researchers have so far recovered 49 bone pieces including a femur, vertebrae and ribs, it added.

From Barron's

The assemblage consists of a nearly complete adult lower jaw, part of a second adult mandible, a child's mandible, several vertebrae, and isolated teeth.

From Science Daily

Fibrocartilage is dense and tough, helping absorb shock in places like the spaces between spinal vertebrae.

From Science Daily

Her mineralized vertebra of a juvenile Jurassic ichthyosaur exudes: “Now I am a treasure for you to love—a part of me to call your own.”

From The Wall Street Journal

That incident saw her airlifted to hospital with pins and rods inserted into her back for a fractured vertebra.

From Barron's