spinal
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
-
of or relating to the spine or the spinal cord
-
denoting a laboratory animal in which the spinal cord has been severed
a spinal rat
noun
Other Word Forms
- interspinal adjective
- nonspinal adjective
- prespinal adjective
- spinally adverb
Etymology
Origin of spinal
1570–80; < Late Latin spīnālis, equivalent to Latin spīn ( a ) spina + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Spinal describes the area of the backbone. Your spinal cord, which is protected by the vertebrae of the backbone, connects the brain and the body. A spinal injury is serious because it affects the body’s ability to move and function. The adjective spinal comes up often in medicine. Spinal fluid acts as a cushion for your brain and spine; a spinal tap is a special kind of test for evaluating this fluid. Doctors and nurses often refer to anesthesia that's injected into the spine simply as a spinal. The adjective has been around since the 16th century, from the Late Latin spinalis. "pertaining to a thorn or the spine."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
MND is a condition that affects the nerves found in the brain and spinal cord, which tell your muscles what to do.
From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026
Scotland-based osteopath Gavin Routledge, who has teamed with renowned golf coach Gary Nicol in developing a treatment program for spinal injuries, views Woods’ medical history as particularly telling.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
The scans estimate the date of delivery, check on the growth of the baby and look for health conditions that may affect the brain, heart and spinal cord, among other issues.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
A new study published in Volume 14 of the journal Bone Research suggests that a hormone-based treatment could help ease chronic back pain by reducing abnormal nerve growth within damaged spinal tissue.
From Science Daily • Mar. 23, 2026
A cord is a string or cable, like the ones found in the human anatomy: spinal cord, umbilical cord, and vocal cords.
From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
