selkärangasta

Selkärangasta is a Finnish term that literally means from the backbone. In Finnish grammar it functions as the ablative form of selkäranka (the vertebral column) and is used to indicate origin, source, or location in relation to the spine. In medical and anatomical contexts the phrase describes items, samples, or observations that come from the spine.

The backbone is the central axis of the human skeleton, consisting of the cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal regions. It encases and protects the spinal cord, supports the head and trunk, and provides attachment points for muscles and ligaments. In humans the vertebral column comprises about 33 vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 coccygeal vertebrae, with the sacral and coccygeal bones typically fused). Intervertebral disks cushion movement, and the spine plays a crucial role in mobility and posture. Common spine-related conditions include herniated disks, spinal stenosis, and scoliosis.

Usage notes: In Finnish, the suffix -sta indicates origin, so selkärangasta is used when referring to something derived from the spine, such as "selkärangasta otetut näytteet" (samples taken from the spine). The term is primarily found in scientific or medical writing but may appear in more general descriptions when the spine is the source of a specimen or observation. See also selkäydin (spinal cord) and selkäranka (vertebral column).