Is Vertebra Singular or Plural?
When understanding a word, it may be helpful to look at its definition. According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, the definition of vertebra is “one of the bony or cartilaginous segments composing the spinal column.”
The word vertebra is singular, referring to one of the bones in the spine. According to Spine-Health.com, there are 33 distinct bones that make up vertebrae, all interlocking to form the spinal column. There are three components to every single bone: the transverse processes, the vertebral body, and the vertebral arch.
This term is often used by doctors that deal with bones such as orthopedic surgeons or chiropractors. Each joint of the spine has its own function in supporting the back. The spine itself is fascinating, as it has over 120 muscles in it. The cartilage in the spine can also expand and contract. Baby’s spines start developing about two months after conception.
You may hear people referring to the cervical vertebra or the lumbar vertebrae— this has to do with which segments of the spinal column you are referring to. The lumbar spine is the lower part of the spine, while the cervical vertebrae support the head.
The presents of vertebra can also be used as a classification system. Higher vertebrates are considered to be smarter, and humans are among these, as opposed to lower vertebrates like fish and amphibians.
What Is the Difference Between Vertebrae and Vertebra?
The main difference between vertebrae and vertebra is one is the pluralized version of the other. This can get complicated because the vertebrae make up the entire series of small bones in the back, which have several projections for muscle attachment. They also have a hole where the spinal cord passes through. The vertebrae in a human are divided into different regions that correspond to the curves of the spinal column. These regions are called the lumbar spine, thoracic spine, cervical spine, sacrum, and coccyx.
The vertebra consists of two parts, the vertebral body and the vertebral arch. In human beings, the size of the vertebrae varies depending on the placement of the vertebral column, posture, and spinal loading. The vertebrae change to better accommodate the needs of the spine in relation to stress and mobility.
There are quite a few medical anomalies related to the vertebrae, including spina bifida and scoliosis. Spina bifida is when the vertebral arch is not fully formed, and scoliosis is a spinal curvature which can result in spinal cord compression.
To fully understand the specifics of all the bones in your back, you may need several years of professional medical training.
The History and Origin of the Word
Understanding where a word originated from helps us to better grasp what a word means. Culture affects language and the way it changes, so it is important to examine those things when learning about a word. The etymology of vertebra dates back to the early 15th century. It comes from the phrase “bone of the spine” from Latin. The word “vertere” in Latin means “to turn” is very similar to the word vertebra. The idea of the word’s origin is that it meant the “hinge” of the body. The spine is extremely flexible, so that notion makes sense.
Animals that have a backbone or a spinal column are called “vertebrates.” These animals include birds, mammals, fish, amphibians, and reptiles. There are about 65,000 known species of vertebrate. This only accounts for around 3% of the animals on Earth. Vertebrate animals can be either warm-blooded or cold-blooded and can come in all shapes and sizes.
Examples of the Word in Context
A good way to know if you are using a word correctly is to look at some examples of the word being used in a sentence. This way, you are more prepared to have a discussion involving this word and can feel like you know what you’re talking about.
Here are some example sentences of the word vertebrae:
- The vertebrae in her neck are fused, and she has to use a wheelchair.
- The discs between the vertebrae serve as the pivots of rotation.
- Youthful carcasses will have cartilaginous caps on the thoracic vertebrae.
- The entire neural spine and arch of the first two vertebrae of this series are exposed.
You may hear this word thrown into a conversation here and there, but it is not extremely common outside of the medical community. Most people in casual conversation might say their back hurts but probably won’t go into detail on which vertebra is in pain. Although if you watch a lot of medical television shows, you may hear the word vertebra quite often.
Synonyms for Vertebra
Learning words with similar meanings can be a good way to solidify a word into your memory. Here are some synonyms for the word vertebra.
- Back: the rear surface of the human body from the shoulders to the hips.
- Spine: the spinal or vertebral column; backbone.
- Any backbone-like part.
- Chine: The backbone or spine, especially of an animal.
- Rachis: the axis of an inflorescence when somewhat elongated, as in a raceme.
In Summary
Vertebrae is a word you should be familiar with because it directly affects you as a human being. Everyone has a spine, and it may come in handy to know that the little bones in the spine are called vertebra. This word is a bit unusual because not many words add an “e” to make it plural. Most words add an “es” or “s,” but this word does not follow those rules.
Hopefully, after reading this article, you now understand how to use the word correctly and when to use its plural form.
Sources:
1.https://www.spine-health.com/glossary/vertebra-vertebrae-plural#:~:text=Vertebrae%20are%20the%2033%20individual,that%20form%20the%20spinal%20column.
2.https://www.etymonline.com/word/vertebra#etymonline_v_4745
3.https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebra
4.https://thewordcounter.com/blog-comma-before-which/
5.https://thewordcounter.com/has-vs-have/
6.https://thewordcounter.com/thru-vs-through/
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do’s and don’ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Vertebra Plural, What is the Plural of Vertebra?
Meaning: each of the series of small bones forming the backbone
Singular and Plural of Vertebra
Singular | Plural |
Vertebra | Vertebras/vertebrae |
Synonyms of Vertebra
- vertebral column
- spine
- spinal column
- chine
- backbone
Vertebra In Example Sentences
- Vertebra is an anatomical term used to describe bones in the spine.
- Vertebrae are classified based on their region in the spine, shape, and function.
- Vertebrae are the individual bones that make up the spine.
English has both singular and plural forms for nouns, pronouns, adjectives and verbs. Understanding when to use them correctly is an important part of mastering the language. This basic vocabulary short lesson is very useful for kids and beginners. We have discussed basic synonyms and their use in our daily routine conversational sentences.
Learning English is a challenging process for many people, but fortunately there are plenty of resources to help you along the way. One common grammar issue that ESL students struggle with is singulars and plurals. If your goal is to learn how to use these correctly in sentences, it can be helpful to keep this basic rule in mind- plural nouns have an “-s” added on the end!
Download here a complete list of singular and plurals in PDF.
Here is a detailed list of singular and plurals:
Singular | Plural |
corpse | corpses |
corps | corps |
corpus | corpora |
corn | corns |
cornea | corneas |
coral | corals |
conundrum | conundra |
continuum | continua |
context | contexts |
content | contents |
consortium | consortiums |
consensus | consensus |
conscious | conscious |
conscience | consciences |
congress | congresses |
confetti | confettis |
concrete | concretes |
concerto | concertos |
comrade | comrades |
computer | computers |
Singular | Plural |
dad | dads |
daddy | daddies |
daily | dailies |
dairy | dairies |
dais | daises |
daisy | daisies |
data | data |
database | databases |
date | dates |
day | days |
dear | dears |
decoy | decoys |
decubitus | decubiti |
degree | degrees |
deli | delis |
delivery | deliveries |
demo | demos |
denarius | denarii |
dentist | dentists |
Singular | Plural |
ear | ear |
eclipse | eclipses |
education | educations |
effort | efforts |
ego | egos |
elementary | elementaries |
elephant | elephants |
elk | elks |
ellipsis | ellipses |
else | else |
emails | |
embargo | embargoes |
embassy | embassies |
embolism | embolisms |
embolus | emboli |
embryo | embryos |
emoji | emojis |
employee | employees |
Singular | Plural |
face | faces |
factory | factories |
faculty | faculties |
fairy | fairies |
fan | fans |
fantasy | fantasies |
father | fathers |
fawn | fawns |
feedback | feedbacks |
foot | feet |
female | females |
ferry | ferries |
Singular | Plural |
gallery | galleries |
gallows | gallowses |
garage | garages |
garden | gardens |
garlic | garlics |
gas | gases |
gazelle | gazelles |
Singular | Plural |
hair | hairs |
halibut | halibuts |
hallux | halluces |
hand | hands |
handful | handfuls |
handsome | handsome |
hare | hares |
hat | hats |
head | heads |
health | healths |
hearse | hearses |
helix | helices |
hello | hellos |
help | helps |
hen | hens |
Singular | Plural |
ice | ices |
idea | ideas |
ides | ides |
igloo | igloos |
ignoramus | ignorami |
ilium | ilia |
illness | illnesses |
impetus | impetuses |
inca | incas |
inch | inches |
About The Author
English[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Borrowing from Latin vertebra (“a joint”), from vertō (“to turn”) + -bra (instrumental nominal suffix). Having multiple vertebrae (plural of vertebra) in one’s backbone instead of having a single bone or solid spine, allows for the movement of the body with bends and turns. Hence meaning 1.
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈvɜː.tɪb.ɹə/
- (General American) IPA(key): /ˈvɝ.təb.ɹə/, /ˈvɝ.təˌbɹeɪ/
- Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)tɪbɹə
Noun[edit]
vertebra (plural vertebrae or (obsolete) vertebræ or vertebras)
- (anatomy) Any of the bony or cartilaginous segments which make up the backbone, consisting in some lower vertebrates of several distinct elements which never become united, and in higher vertebrates having a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord.
- Synonym: (rare) spondyle
- Meronyms: see Thesaurus:vertebra
- Hyponym: anticlinal vertebra
-
1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC:
-
Already I seemed to hear the water rippling against the desiccated bones and rattling them together, rolling my skull against Mahomed’s, and his against mine, till at last Mahomed’s stood straight up upon its vertebræ, and glared at me through its empty eyeholes, and cursed me with its grinning jaws, because I, a dog of a Christian, disturbed the last sleep of a true believer.
-
Derived terms[edit]
- hemivertebra
- prevertebra
- protovertebra
- vertebral
- vertebraless
- vertebrate
- vertebro-, vertebr-
[edit]
- vertebrally
Translations[edit]
any of the small bones making up the backbone
- Afrikaans: werwel
- Arabic: فَقَرَة f (faqara)
- Egyptian Arabic: فقرة f (faqara)
- Armenian: ող (hy) (oł)
- Bashkir: умыртҡа (umırtqa)
- Bulgarian: гръбначен прешлен m (grǎbnačen prešlen)
- Burmese: ကျောရိုးဆစ် sg (kyau:rui:hcac), ကျောရိုးဆစ်များ pl (kyau:rui:hcacmya:)
- Catalan: vèrtebra (ca) f
- Cebuano: dugokan
- Chinese:
- Mandarin: 椎骨 (zh) (zhuīgǔ), 脊椎 (zh) (jǐzhuī), 脊椎骨 (zh) (jǐzhuīgǔ)
- Min Nan: 透龍骨/透龙骨 (thàu-liông-kut)
- Czech: obratel (cs) m
- Danish: ryghvirvel (da) c
- Dutch: wervel (nl) m, rugwervel (nl) m, ruggengraatswervel m
- Egyptian: (ṯz)
- Evenki: сигдэ (sigdə), нугды̄ (nugdī)
- Finnish: nikama (fi), selkänikama (fi)
- French: vertèbre (fr) m
- Galician: vértebra (gl) f
- Georgian: მალა (mala), ხერხემალი (xerxemali)
- German: Wirbel (de) m, Wirbelknochen m
- Greek: σπόνδυλος (el) m (spóndylos)
- Ancient: σφόνδυλος m (sphóndulos)
- Hebrew: חֻלְיָה (he) f (ẖulyá)
- Hungarian: csigolya (hu)
- Ingrian: piiluu
- Interlingua: vertebra
- Inupiaq: ikik
- Irish: veirteabra f
- Italian: vertebra (it) f
- Japanese: 椎骨 (ja) (ついこつ, tsuikotsu)
- Korean: 척추(脊椎) (ko) (cheokchu)
- Kurdish:
- Northern Kurdish: birrbirre m
- Latin: vertebra f
- Latvian: skriemelis m
- Maori: tangai
- Mongolian: нугалам (mn) (nugalam), нурууны үе (nuruuny üje), нугалмай (mn) (nugalmaj), сээр (mn) (seer)
- Navajo: íígháán
- Norwegian: ryggvirvel m
- Persian: مهره (fa) (mohre)
- Polish: kręg (pl) m inan
- Portuguese: vértebra (pt) f
- Romanian: vertebră (ro) f
- Russian: позвоно́к (ru) m (pozvonók)
- Scottish Gaelic: cnàimh an droma m, dromaltach m
- Serbo-Croatian:
- Cyrillic: пршљен m, кра́љежак m, кра́љешак m
- Roman: pršljen (sh) m, králježak (sh) m, králješak (sh) m
- Slovene: vretence (sl) n
- Spanish: vértebra (es) f
- Swedish: ryggkota (sv) c, kota (sv) c
- Tagalog: gulugod
- Turkish: omur (tr)
- Walloon: cronzoxh (wa) m
- Welsh: cefngymal m, fertebra m
- Yakut: тоноҕос (tonoğos)
See also[edit]
- coccyx
References[edit]
- “vertebra”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
- “vertebra”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.
Esperanto[edit]
Adjective[edit]
vertebra (accusative singular vertebran, plural vertebraj, accusative plural vertebrajn)
- vertebrate
Antonyms[edit]
- malvertebra (“invertebrate”)
Hypernyms[edit]
- ĥordohava, ĥordula (“chordate”)
[edit]
- vertebro (“a vertebrate”)
Interlingua[edit]
Noun[edit]
vertebra (plural vertebras)
- vertebra
Italian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Latin vertebra.
Pronunciation[edit]
- IPA(key): /ˈvɛr.te.bra/
- Rhymes: -ɛrtebra
- Hyphenation: vèr‧te‧bra
Noun[edit]
vertebra f (plural vertebre)
- (anatomy) vertebra
[edit]
- vertebra cervicale
- vertebrale
- vertebra lombare
- vertebrato
- vertebra toracica
Further reading[edit]
- vertebra in Treccani.it – Vocabolario Treccani on line, Istituto dell’Enciclopedia Italiana
Anagrams[edit]
- tra breve
Latin[edit]
Pronunciation[edit]
- (Classical) IPA(key): /ˈu̯er.te.bra/, [ˈu̯ɛrt̪ɛbrä]
- (Ecclesiastical) IPA(key): /ˈver.te.bra/, [ˈvɛrt̪ebrä]
Etymology 1[edit]
From vertō (“to turn”) + -bra (instrumental nominal suffix). Doublet of vertebrum.
Noun[edit]
vertebra f (genitive vertebrae); first declension
- a joint
- (anatomy) a joint, vertebra of the spine
This entry needs quotations to illustrate usage. If you come across any interesting, durably archived quotes then please add them! |
Inflection[edit]
First-declension noun.
Case | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Nominative | vertebra | vertebrae |
Genitive | vertebrae | vertebrārum |
Dative | vertebrae | vertebrīs |
Accusative | vertebram | vertebrās |
Ablative | vertebrā | vertebrīs |
Vocative | vertebra | vertebrae |
Derived terms[edit]
- vertebrālis (adjective)
- vertebrātus (adjective)
Descendants[edit]
Etymology 2[edit]
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Noun[edit]
vertebra n
- nominative/accusative/vocative plural of vertebrum
References[edit]
- “vertebra”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- vertebra in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette
Manx[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Borrowed from Latin vertebra.
Noun[edit]
vertebra f (genitive singular vertebra, plural vertebraghyn)
- (anatomy) vertebra
Synonyms[edit]
- junt craue-drommey
Derived terms[edit]
- vertebragh (“vertebrate, vertebral”)
Spanish[edit]
Verb[edit]
vertebra
- inflection of vertebrar:
- third-person singular present indicative
- second-person singular imperative
позвонок, позвоночник
существительное
- позвонок
- pl. позвоночник
Мои примеры
Словосочетания
lumbar vertebra — поясничный позвонок
sacral vertebra — крестцовый позвонок
back vertebra — спинной позвонок
basilar vertebra — поясничный самый нижний позвонок; нижний поясничный позвонок
coccygeal vertebra — копчиковый позвонок
dislocation of vertebra — смещение позвонка
false vertebra — ложный позвонок
neck vertebra — шейный позвонок
spinous process of vertebra — остистый отросток позвонка
tail vertebra — хвостовой позвонок
Возможные однокоренные слова
vertebral — позвоночный
vertebrate — позвоночный, позвоночное животное
Формы слова
noun
ед. ч.(singular): vertebra
мн. ч.(plural): vertebrae
Table of Contents
- Is spine singular or plural?
- What is the plural of lumbar?
- What is the special function of the two vertebrae at the top of the spine?
- What does vertebra mean?
- Is vertebra a word?
- What is the plural of window?
- Are humans vertebrates?
- What animal does not have a spine?
- Is snake a vertebrate?
- Which animal has the longest spine?
- What is the most agile animal?
- What animals have a spine?
- What animal is flexible?
- Which animal is cleanest?
- What is the healthiest animal?
- What is healthiest fish to eat?
- Is chicken or fish better for weight loss?
- What is the best fish for weight loss?
- What is the best meat for weight loss?
- What are the top 5 leanest meats?
- What is the lowest calorie meat?
- What are good snacks for weight loss?
Plural vertebrae (vûr′tə-brā′, -brē′) vertebras.
Is spine singular or plural?
spines
What is the plural of lumbar?
Answer. The plural form of lumbar vertebra is lumbar vertebrae.
What is the special function of the two vertebrae at the top of the spine?
Cervical (neck): The top part of the spine has seven vertebrae (C1 to C7). These neck vertebrae allow you to turn, tilt and nod your head. The cervical spine makes an inward C-shape called a lordotic curve.
What does vertebra mean?
Medical Definition of vertebra : any of the bony or cartilaginous segments that make up the spinal column and that have a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord.
Is vertebra a word?
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.
What is the plural of window?
windows
Are humans vertebrates?
Like all of these animals, we are deuterostomes – meaning that during embryo development, our anus forms before our mouth. In other words, we are vertebrates, which are a form of chordate, which are themselves a form of deuterostome.
What animal does not have a spine?
Sponges, corals, worms, insects, spiders and crabs are all sub-groups of the invertebrate group – they do not have a backbone.
Is snake a vertebrate?
Snakes belong to the vertebrates, along with all other reptiles and amphibians, mammals, birds, and fish. All these animals have an inner skeleton. Bones give structure and strength to bodies.
Which animal has the longest spine?
Greenland shark
What is the most agile animal?
housefly
What animals have a spine?
Vertebrates have been around for millions of years but have evolved and changed over time. The word vertebrate means “having a backbone.” Many animals have backbones. You have a backbone. So does a cow, a whale, a fish, a frog, and a bird.
What animal is flexible?
Octopuses are the most flexible animal — study.
Which animal is cleanest?
Contrary to popular belief, pigs are unable to sweat; instead, they wallow in mud to cool down. Their mucky appearance gives pigs an undeserved reputation for slovenliness. In fact, pigs are some of the cleanest animals around, refusing to excrete anywhere near their living or eating areas when given a choice.
What is the healthiest animal?
Healthiest to least healthy
Kind of animal protein | Details |
---|---|
Chicken | White meat has slightly less saturated fat than dark; skinless, boneless breast is leanest. |
Bison | Super-lean, lower in fat than other red meat. |
Pork | Look for loin cuts like tenderloin or top loin, which are typically leaner. |
What is healthiest fish to eat?
- Alaskan salmon. There’s a debate about whether wild salmon or farmed salmon is the better option.
- Cod. This flaky white fish is a great source of phosphorus, niacin, and vitamin B-12.
- Herring. A fatty fish similar to sardines, herring is especially good smoked.
- Mahi-mahi.
- Mackerel.
- Perch.
- Rainbow trout.
- Sardines.
Is chicken or fish better for weight loss?
While the quantity also plays a major role, chicken breast is considered the best for weight loss, while boiled chicken and chicken soups with less salt also helps. Chicken can only be considered slightly less than fish only on the basis of omega-3 fatty acids content in fish.
What is the best fish for weight loss?
According to the AHA, fish is a great option for weight loss because it’s low in calories yet high in protein….Here are five healthy fish for your low-carb diet:
- Salmon. According to Medical News Today, salmon is an excellent source of vitamin D and calcium.
- Cod.
- Tuna.
- Halibut.
- Sardines.
What is the best meat for weight loss?
What Are The Best Lean Meats For Weight Loss?
- Grass-Fed Beef. Meat from cattle has the high-quality proteins and essential amino acids needed for a strong and healthy body.
- Chicken.
- Pork Tenderloin.
- White-Fleshed Fish.
- Salmon And Other Fatty Fish.
- Tuna.
- Rabbit.
- Venison.
What are the top 5 leanest meats?
The leanest beef cuts include round steaks and roasts (round eye, top round, bottom round, round tip), top loin, top sirloin, and chuck shoulder and arm roasts. The leanest pork choices include pork loin, tenderloin, center loin, and ham. Choose extra lean ground beef. The label should say at least “90% lean”.
What is the lowest calorie meat?
Meats that are lowest in calories are the ones that are very lean….Fat is calorie-dense, so fattier cuts of meat have a higher calorie count.
- Eye of round steak.
- Boneless, skinless chicken breast.
- Turkey breast.
- Pork tenderloin.
What are good snacks for weight loss?
Here are 29 healthy, weight-loss-friendly snacks to add to your diet.
- Mixed nuts.
- Red bell pepper with guacamole.
- Greek yogurt and mixed berries.
- Apple slices with peanut butter.
- Cottage cheese with flax seeds and cinnamon.
- Celery sticks with cream cheese.
- Kale chips.
- Dark chocolate and almonds.