spinal column

American  

noun

1. the series of vertebrae in a vertebrate animal forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord; spine; backbone.

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spinal column British  

noun

1. Also called: spine.   vertebral column.   rachis.  Nontechnical name: backbone.  a series of contiguous or interconnecting bony or cartilaginous segments that surround and protect the spinal cord

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spinal column Scientific  

/ spī′nəl /

1. See vertebral column

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Etymology

Origin of spinal column

First recorded in 1830–40

Compare meaning

How does spinal-column compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• spinal cord vs. spinal column

Example Sentences

He severed a nerve between my uterus and spinal column that reduced my pain and dramatically improved my quality of life.

From Slate • Aug. 7, 2023

The spinal implant amplified weak signals from the brain to the damaged part of the spinal column and was boosted further by pre-programmed signals from a computer.

From BBC • May 24, 2023

There’s a reflex that ties different parts of movements along the spinal column together that aren’t normally linked.

From Scientific American • May 22, 2023

But at 20 weeks, an ultrasound found that the fetus had spina bifida, a condition in which an area of the spinal column doesn’t form properly, and a complex congenital malformation of the brain.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 18, 2022

The very first chords which Mademoiselle Reisz struck upon the piano sent a keen tremor down Mrs. Pontellier’s spinal column.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin