Meaning & use
vertebrae
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“vertebrae” is a form of “vertebra”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
nounpluraltechnicalmedical
The plural of vertebra; the individual bones that form the spine in humans and other animals.
Grammar: This is the plural form; the singular is vertebra. Use it with a plural verb: The vertebrae are damaged.
Patterns
- the vertebrae are
- a series of vertebrae
- between the vertebrae
The human spine is made up of 33 vertebrae.
A slipped disc can press on nerves between the vertebrae.
The doctor examined the vertebrae in her neck after the fall.
Word forms
| singular | vertebra |
|---|
Common combinations
- cervical vertebrae
- The cervical vertebrae are the seven bones in the neck.
- thoracic vertebrae
- The thoracic vertebrae connect to the ribs.
- lumbar vertebrae
- The lumbar vertebrae support most of the body's weight.
- fused vertebrae
- In some injuries, two fused vertebrae can limit movement.
Synonyms and how they differ
- vertebra
- This is the singular form; use it when talking about one bone.
- spinal bone
- A less technical way to say vertebra, but not a formal term.
Word family
- vertebral adjective
- Relating to the vertebrae, as in vertebral column.
- vertebrate noun
- An animal that has a spine made of vertebrae.
Commonly confused: vertebrae or vertebra?
vertebrae vs vertebra
Vertebra is singular (one bone); vertebrae is plural (more than one). People often say 'a vertebrae' by mistake.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence:
Choose one answer.
The singular form is vertebra; vertebrae is plural. Option B uses the singular correctly after 'a'. Option A mixes singular article with plural form, C uses an adjective as a noun, and D invents a regular plural.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vertebrae”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.