spinal canal

noun

variants or less commonly spinal cavity
: a canal in the spinal column through which the spinal cord passes and is delimited dorsally by the arches on the dorsal side of the vertebrae

called also vertebral canal

Examples of spinal canal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web With wear and tear, the fibrous ring can rupture, allowing the core to break into the spinal canal where the neurons live. Tony Dajer, Discover Magazine, 13 June 2024 Spinal stenosis is a condition where the spinal canal or a nerve root is compressed by bone and connective tissue in the back, often as a result of degenerative joint or disk disease. Dr. Keith Roach, oregonlive, 14 Sep. 2023 About the width of a thumb, your sciatic nerve starts in the lower part of the spinal canal and then splits to run down through your pelvic area, each buttock and thigh, and along each leg to your feet and toes. Laura Riley, Parents, 2 Sep. 2023 Six months after patients received an injection into their spinal canals, the levels of the protein biomarkers had risen but remained an average of 55 to 65 percent lower than before treatment. Jonathan Saltzman, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023 See all Example Sentences for spinal canal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spinal canal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spinal canal was in 1801

Dictionary Entries Near spinal canal

Cite this Entry

“Spinal canal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spinal%20canal. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Medical Definition

spinal canal

noun
variants also spinal cavity
: a canal in the spinal column through which the spinal cord passes and is delimited dorsally by the arches on the dorsal side of the vertebrae : vertebral canal
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