Definition(s)
- Any of the bony or cartilaginous segments that make up the spinal column and that have a short more or less cylindrical body whose ends articulate by pads of elastic or cartilaginous tissue with those of adjacent vertebrae and a bony arch that encloses the spinal cord.
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Definition from: Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary
by Merriam-Webster Inc.
See also Understanding Medical Terminology.