1
the vertebrae of the spine
vertebra 的复数形式为 vertebrae（也可写作 vertebras）。
The vertebrae of the spine are stacked to form the spinal column.
脊柱的椎骨堆叠起来构成脊椎。
椎骨；脊椎骨
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
椎骨；脊椎骨
one of the bony segments of the spinal column
The vertebrae of the spine are stacked to form the spinal column.
脊柱的椎骨堆叠起来构成脊椎。
构成脊柱的骨性或软骨性节段。低等脊椎动物中为多个永不愈合的独立小骨；高等脊椎动物中椎体短而略圆柱形,两端借弹性或软骨垫与相邻椎骨相关节,并有骨弓包围脊髓。
Any of the bony or cartilaginous segments which make up the backbone, consisting in some lower vertebrates of several distinct elements which never become united, and in higher vertebrates having 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.
脊柱的骨段之一
one of the bony segments of the spinal column
A herniated disc can press on a nearby vertebra and cause back pain.
椎间盘突出可能会压迫邻近的椎骨并引起背痛。
The human spine is made up of many vertebrae stacked on top of each other.
人的脊柱由许多上下堆叠的椎骨组成。
She felt a sharp pain when the doctor touched the vertebra at the base of her neck.
当医生碰到她脖子底部的椎骨时，她感到一阵剧痛。
vertebra 的复数形式为 vertebrae（也可写作 vertebras）。
The vertebrae of the spine are stacked to form the spinal column.
脊柱的椎骨堆叠起来构成脊椎。
指具体某块椎骨时，常用 a vertebra + in + 部位。
She has a damaged vertebra in her lower back.
她下背部有一块受损的椎骨。
动词常与 a vertebra 搭配表示对骨骼的损伤；注意复数 vertebrae 作主语时谓语用复数。
The skier fractured a vertebra in a bad fall.
滑雪者重重摔倒，摔断了一块椎骨。
Not this
Two vertebra are fractured.
Use this
Two vertebrae are fractured.
vertebra 是单数形式，复数形式是 vertebrae；在 two 等表示复数的数量词后必须用复数。汉语名词没有复数变化，所以容易漏掉词尾 -e。
Not this
She injured her vertebra.
Use this
She injured a vertebra.
vertebra 是可数名词，第一次提到单个椎骨时要用不定冠词 a/an；her vertebra 暗示某个特指的椎骨，但语境中并没有指定的对象。
Not this
He has a vertebra disease.
Use this
He has a vertebral disease.
vertebra 是名词，修饰 disease 时应用形容词 vertebral；名词不能直接作定语修饰另一个名词。汉语里说“椎骨疾病”时还用名词修饰，因此容易出现直译错误。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
颈椎骨；颈椎
She injured a cervical vertebra in the accident.
她在事故中伤了一节颈椎骨。
胸椎骨；胸椎
There are twelve thoracic vertebrae in the human spine.
人体脊柱中有十二块胸椎骨。
腰椎骨；腰椎
The lumbar vertebrae support most of the upper body's weight.
腰椎骨承担上半身的大部分重量。
椎骨骨折；断裂的椎骨
He was diagnosed with a fractured vertebra after the fall.
他摔倒后被诊断为一节椎骨骨折。
Use vertebra naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
想象椎骨像糖葫芦，一颗颗 vertebra 串成脊柱；复数 vertebrae 表示好多颗。
语域：formal 常见场景：解剖学、医学、生物学 该词是比较正式的解剖学术语，多用于医学、生物学或学术写作，日常口语中更常说 spine 或 backbone。
注意复数形式为 vertebrae，也可写作 vertebras。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.