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

In April he crashed badly during a race in Jordan, fracturing several vertebrae, keeping him off course for several months.

From Barron's

Now they have been recognized as the vertebrae of a previously unknown snake.

From Science Daily

Fact: Back pain is usually caused by muscle strains or sprains, not by a serious condition like a disc or vertebrae issue.

From Science Daily

Since these snakes have more than 300 vertebrae, the size of individual fossilized vertebrae offers a dependable way to estimate full body length.

From Science Daily

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