centra

Centra is a term used in several fields and can refer to anatomical terminology or to a contemporary corporate name. In anatomy, centra (the plural of centrum) denote the central, weight‑bearing part of a vertebra. The centrum forms the main body of the vertebra and articulates with adjacent vertebrae via its endplates, contributing to the stability and motion of the spinal column.

In paleontology and zoology, centra describe the central portion of vertebrae in both fossil and living species. The shape, size, and relative proportions of centra vary across groups and are commonly used in taxonomic descriptions and functional interpretations of vertebral columns.

Centra Tech, a cryptocurrency company, marketed a payment platform and a debit card and conducted an initial coin offering to raise funds. In 2018, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission charged Centra Tech and its founders with securities fraud, asserting misrepresentations and unregistered securities in connection with their offerings.

Outside of science and corporate names, centra mainly appears as the plural of centrum in anatomical usage. The term is used primarily in medical, veterinary, and paleontological literature.