The words vertebra and vertebrae refer to the bones that make up the spine, but the distinction lies in their number. Vertebra is the singular form, referring to one bone in the spine, while vertebrae is the plural form, used to describe more than one of these bones.
Vertebra
Definition:
Vertebra is the singular form, meaning one of the individual bones that make up the spinal column.
Examples of use:
After the accident, the doctor said I had a fractured vertebra.
The MRI showed damage to my lower vertebra.
While grabbing the barbell, I chipped my L4 vertebra.
Vertebrae
Definition:
Vertebrae is the plural form, referring to two or more of the bones that form the spine.
Examples of use:
The injury affected several vertebrae in my neck.
He said my problem was between the C3 and C4 vertebrae.
The chiropractor aligned my lumbar vertebrae to ease my pain.
In summary, vertebra refers to a single bone in the spine, and vertebrae refers to multiple bones. It’s important to use the correct form depending on whether you’re talking about one or more bones.
