vertebrae
n.the small bones that connect to form your spine or backbone. They protect your spinal cord and help you stand up straight.
n.the individual bony segments that constitute the spinal column in vertebrate animals. Plural form of 'vertebra'.
“The doctor checked the patient's vertebrae for any signs of injury.”
“A typical human spine consists of thirty-three vertebrae stacked on top of each other to provide structural support.”
“The fossilized remains were remarkably well-preserved, allowing the paleontologists to count each of the cervical vertebrae and determine the creature's neck length.”
Takes plural verb agreement. The singular form is 'vertebra', following Latin declension patterns.
Vertebrae is the plural form; it requires a plural verb. Use 'vertebra' for a single bone.
“The sacrum is a group of vertebrae connected to the pelvis and forms part of the animal's lower spine.”
“Several enormous Megalodon vertebrae thought to have been destroyed in 1989 were found sitting unnoticed on a museum shelf.”