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Glite Dictionary
canalis vertebralis

canalis vertebralis

9.9
A space in the spine that holds the spinal cord
  • noun
  • /kəˈneɪlɪs ˌvɜːrtəˈbrælɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : canal vertebral
  • The MRI scan revealed a narrowing of the canalis vertebralis.

Examples

  • Surgeons must take care to avoid harming the canalis vertebralis during spinal operations.

  • An injury to the canalis vertebralis may result in damage to the spinal cord.

  • The canalis vertebralis protects the spinal cord.

  • During surgery, the doctor examined the canalis vertebralis closely.

  • The MRI scan revealed a narrowing of the canalis vertebralis.

  • Surgeons must take care to avoid harming the canalis vertebralis during spinal operations.

  • An injury to the canalis vertebralis may result in damage to the spinal cord.

Synonyms

spinal canal
vscanalis vertebralis
  • Specialized
2 4.0

A passage through the spine that contains the spinal cord

stresses alignment of vertebral foramina rather than a simple passage
vertebral canal
vscanalis vertebralis
  • Specialized
7.2

A passage formed by the bones of the spine that holds the spinal cord

focuses on alignment of vertebral foramina as canal structure

Surface Forms

canalis vertebralis singular
canalis vertebralis plural

Morphology

canalis + vertebralis

The meaning is directly compositional: it denotes the canal formed by the vertebrae (canal + vertebral), so a learner who knows the constituent meanings (canal, vertebral) can infer it refers to the spinal/vertebral canal. Although given in Latinized form, the morphemes correspond transparently to common medical English terms and similar constructions across languages, so the sense is predictable.

Etymology

Canalis vertebralis comes from Latin words for a 'canal' (canalis) and 'of the vertebrae' (vertebralis), the bones of the spine. Imagine the small holes in each back bone lined up to make a tube where the 'spinal cord' passes, so the name simply describes that canal.