vertebra

[ vur-tuh-bruh ]
/ ˈvɜr tə brə /

noun, plural ver·te·brae [vur-tuh-bree, -brey] /ˈvɜr təˌbri, -ˌbreɪ/, ver·te·bras. Anatomy, Zoology.

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.

Origin of vertebra

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

Words nearby vertebra

verst, versus, vert, vert., vertebr-, vertebra, vertebra dentata, vertebra plana, vertebral, vertebral arch, vertebral artery

Example sentences from the Web for vertebra

British Dictionary definitions for vertebra

vertebra
/ (ˈvɜːtɪbrə) /

noun plural -brae (-briː) or -bras

one of the bony segments of the spinal column

Derived forms of vertebra

vertebral, adjective vertebrally, adverb

Word Origin for vertebra

C17: from Latin: joint of the spine, from vertere to turn

Medical definitions for vertebra

vertebra
[ vûr′tə-brə ]

n. pl. ver•te•bras

Any of the bones or cartilaginous segments of the spinal column, usually 33 in number.

Scientific definitions for vertebra

vertebra
[ vûr′tə-brə ]

Plural vertebrae (vûr′tə-brā′, -brē′) vertebras

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. See more at skeleton.