vertebral column
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord: The
vertebral columnis the central, flexible bony structure that runs from the base of the skull to the pelvis. It provides the main support for the body, allows for movement, and encloses and protects the delicate spinal cord.
Usage
- The is a formal and anatomical term. It is used in medical, scientific, and academic contexts.
- It is often used interchangeably with "spine" or "spinal column," though it is the most precise technical term.
Examples
- Noun:
- An X-ray revealed a slight curvature in her
vertebral column. - The human
vertebral columnis divided into cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions. - The primary function of the
vertebral columnis to protect the spinal cord.
Advanced Usage
- "Integrity of the vertebral column": A medical phrase referring to the structural soundness and proper alignment of the spine, crucial for neurological health.
- The surgeon assessed the integrity of the patient's
vertebral columnafter the accident.
Variants and Related Words
- Spine (n): The most common general term for the vertebral column.
- Spinal column (n): A common synonym used in both medical and general contexts.
- Backbone (n): A less formal, everyday term.
- Vertebra (n, singular): One of the individual bones that make up the vertebral column.
- Vertebrae (n, plural): The plural form of vertebra.
Synonyms
- Spine
- Spinal column
- Backbone
- Rachis (a technical term, primarily used in zoology and comparative anatomy)
Related Phrases
- Spinal cord: The bundle of nerve fibers enclosed within the vertebral column.
- Spinal canal: The hollow channel formed by the vertebrae through which the spinal cord passes.
Noun
- the series of vertebrae forming the axis of the skeleton and protecting the spinal cord
- the fall broke his back