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
Carl Zimmercalled also vertebral arch
Examples of neural arch in a Sentence
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The top parts of its vertebrae—known as neural arches—were still separated from the lower sections rather than fused, which suggests the dinosaur was probably a teenager.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
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
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Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Neural arch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/neural%20arch. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Carl Zimmercalled also vertebral arch
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