vertebral body

noun

anatomy
: the thick, cylindrical, anterior part of a vertebra that bears the weight of the head and trunk, is attached to and articulates with an adjacent vertebral body by an intervertebral disc, and encloses the front part of the vertebral foramen

Examples of vertebral body in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Using a low-powered X-ray machine, called fluoroscopy, the physician inserts a needle through the skin and into the fractured vertebral body. Smita Patel, Verywell Health, 12 July 2024 Other injuries sustained in the crash include a cervical and two thoracic spine vertebral body fractures for Team Emirates rider Jay Vine and a concussion and fractured sternum for EF Pro Cycling’s Sean Quinn. Matias Grez, CNN, 5 Apr. 2024 One of fixing such a fracture is a kyphoplasty, which involves injected some polymethylmethacrylate medical cement to add back volume to the vertebral body. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021 The case described the incidence cardiopulmonary cement embolism after such vertebral body procedures as 0% to 23%. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 6 Oct. 2021 Miller has undergone two spinal surgeries — vertebral body tethering — to correct idiopathic scoliosis. New York Times, 27 July 2021 In 2012, Schloegel’s parents came across two U.S. practices performing vertebral body tethering, an experimental surgery that aims to straighten children’s spines without limiting their mobility. Katie Palmer, STAT, 14 May 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vertebral body.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1819, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vertebral body was in 1819

Dictionary Entries Near vertebral body

Cite this Entry

“Vertebral body.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertebral%20body. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

vertebral body

noun
: the thick, cylindrical, anterior part of a vertebra that bears the weight of the head and trunk, is attached to and articulates with an adjacent vertebral body by an intervertebral disc, and encloses the front part of the vertebral foramen
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!