Vertebralis

Vertebralis is a Latin adjective meaning “of the vertebrae” or “vertebral.” In scientific terminology it is used to indicate a relation to the vertebral column or to vertebrae in general. The form is commonly employed in compound anatomical terms and, less frequently, as a species epithet in biological names.

Etymology and usage patterns

The root vertebra comes from Latin, and the suffix -alis is a standard Latin adjectival ending. When combined in terms such as vertebralis, it agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies, typically the feminine nouns used for anatomical structures (for example arteria vertebralis, columna vertebralis).

Anatomical examples

One of the most widely recognized terms is arteria vertebralis, the vertebral artery, which travels from the subclavian artery through the transverse foramina of the cervical vertebrae, enters the skull via the foramen magnum, and contributes to the posterior cerebral circulation. The term columna vertebralis refers to the vertebral column, a bony axis enclosing and protecting the spinal cord, composed of cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions. The vertebral foramina line up to form the vertebral canal, within which the spinal cord and its meninges reside.

Taxonomic use

In taxonomy and systematics, vertebralis is occasionally used as a species epithet to denote a characteristic associated with vertebrates or vertebral features, though its use varies by taxonomic group and is less standardized than the main anatomical terms.

See also

Vertebrata, vertebral, vertebral artery, vertebral column.