neural arch

noun

anatomy

: an arch of bone or cartilage of a vertebra that is situated posterior to a vertebral body, is formed by the fusion of two pedicles and two laminae, and along with the back portion of the vertebral body forms a vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord passes

The neural arch puts limits on the range of a spine's movement with pairs of interlocking tabs known as zygapophyses.

—Carl Zimmer

called also vertebral arch

Examples of neural arch in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Two pretty small somethings—a neural arch from a Brachychampsa spine and a tooth fragment with a so-far-unknown origin. —Jennifer Billock, Smithsonian, 25 Sep. 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1843, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

neural arch

noun

: an arch of bone or cartilage of a vertebra that is situated posterior to a vertebral body, is formed by the fusion of two pedicles and two laminae, and along with the back portion of the vertebral body forms a vertebral foramen through which the spinal cord passes

The neural arch puts limits on the range of a spine's movement with pairs of interlocking tabs known as zygapophyses.

—Carl Zimmer

called also vertebral arch