vertebra

/ˈvʌrdəbrə/

/ˈvʌtəbrə/

Other forms: vertebrae; vertebras

A vertebra is one of the little bones in your spinal column; there are vertebrae up and down your back.

Your whole body is full of bones, and one of those types of bones are vertebrae: the bones in your back. These bones are very important because they protect your spinal column, which allows your brain to communicate with the rest of your body. A serious back injury could damage a vertebra, resulting in pain or spinal damage. If you bend over and then straighten up slowly, you can feel yourself rising one vertebra at a time.

Definitions of vertebra

1. noun

   one of the bony segments of the spinal column
   types:

   cervical vertebra, neck bone

   one of 7 vertebrae in the human spine located in the neck region

   dorsal vertebra, thoracic vertebra

   one of 12 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; thoracic vertebrae extend from the seventh cervical vertebra down to the first lumbar vertebra

   lumbar vertebra

   one of 5 vertebrae in the human vertebral column; lumbar vertebrae extend from the twelfth thoracic vertebra down to the sacral vertebrae

   sacral vertebra

   one of 5 vertebrae in the human spine that fuse in the adult to form the sacrum

   caudal vertebra, coccygeal vertebra

   one of 4 vertebrae in the human coccyx

   atlas, atlas vertebra

   the 1st cervical vertebra

   axis, axis vertebra

   the 2nd cervical vertebra; serves as a pivot for turning the head

   type of:

   bone, os

   rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates