How Do You Spell VERTEBRAL FORMULA?

1. The term "vertebral formula" refers to a systematic representation or formulaic arrangement that describes the number and type of vertebrae present in a given species or individual. It represents a concise and standardized way of characterizing the vertebral column's composition, aiding in species identification, taxonomic classification, and comparative anatomical studies.

   A typical vertebral formula consists of a series of numbers or letters that correspond to specific regions of the vertebral column, denoting the quantity and type of vertebrae in each segment. The formula may vary according to the species, but it generally includes information about the cervical (neck), thoracic (chest), lumbar (lower back), sacral (pelvic), and caudal (tail) regions.

   For instance, a vertebral formula for a human could be C7-T12-L5-S5-Ca4, where C represents cervical, T represents thoracic, L represents lumbar, S represents sacral, and Ca represents caudal vertebrae. The associated numbers, in this case, indicate the quantity of vertebrae in each region. Thus, a human would have 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 4 caudal vertebrae.

   Overall, the vertebral formula serves as a valuable tool for anatomical description, classification, and comparative analysis of the vertebral column across different species, assisting researchers and taxonomists in understanding the structural diversity and anatomical variation in vertebrates.

2. • See under vertebral.

   • A formula indicating the number of vertebrae in each segment of the spinal column; for man it is C. 7, T. 12, L. 5, S. 5, Cd. 4=33, the letters standing for cervical, thoracic (or dorsal), lumbar, sacral, and caudal (or coccygeal).

   A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.

Common Misspellings for VERTEBRAL FORMULA

The word "vertebral formula" is derived from Latin and Greek origins.

The term "vertebra" comes from Latin, where it means "joint" or "bone of the spine". It is derived from the Latin verb "vertere", meaning "to turn".

The word "formula" comes from the Latin noun "forma", meaning "shape" or "pattern". It is derived from the Latin verb "formare", which means "to form" or "to shape".

In scientific and anatomical terms, "vertebral formula" refers to the arrangement and pattern of vertebrae in an organism's spinal column. The term is often used in taxonomy to describe the number of vertebrae in specific regions of different animal species.