spinal canal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low frequency (C2/Technical)Technical/Medical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “spinal canal” mean?
The bony channel in the vertebral column through which the spinal cord passes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The bony channel in the vertebral column through which the spinal cord passes.
The protective, tube-like structure formed by the stacked vertebral foramina, running from the skull to the lower back, containing the spinal cord, meninges, nerve roots, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood vessels.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Both use 'spinal canal'. Spelling of related terms may differ (e.g., 'vertebrae' standard).
Connotations
Neutral, clinical term in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both, confined to medical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “spinal canal” in a Sentence
[adjective] + spinal canalspinal canal + [prepositional phrase: of/in the spine]spinal canal + [verb: narrows, contains, protects]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spinal canal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The spinal-canal diameter was measured.
- He has a spinal-canal procedure scheduled.
American English
- The spinal canal diameter was measured.
- He has a spinal canal procedure scheduled.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, biological, and anatomical texts, lectures, and research papers.
Everyday
Rarely used. A patient might hear it from a doctor discussing MRI results or back problems.
Technical
The primary register. Used in surgery reports, radiology, neurology, orthopaedics, and physiotherapy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “spinal canal”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spinal canal”
- Confusing 'spinal canal' with 'spinal cord'.
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'spinels canal' or 'spinal canals' (it is usually a singular, uncountable anatomical structure).
- Misspelling as 'spinal channel'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The spinal column (or vertebral column) is the entire stack of bones (vertebrae). The spinal canal is the hollow, tube-like space running through the middle of that column.
Spinal stenosis is a medical condition characterised by an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal, which can put pressure on the spinal cord or nerve roots.
The bony walls of the canal itself do not have pain receptors. However, pain can arise when structures within the canal (like nerves) are compressed or inflamed, or when the surrounding bones and ligaments cause narrowing.
The spinal canal is the large central channel for the spinal cord. The neural foramina (singular: foramen) are smaller, paired openings on the sides of the vertebral column where individual spinal nerves exit to travel to the rest of the body.
The bony channel in the vertebral column through which the spinal cord passes.
Spinal canal is usually technical/medical/scientific in register.
Spinal canal: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspaɪnl kəˈnæl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspaɪnəl kəˈnæl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a spine (vertebrae) as a stack of rings. The hole in the middle of each ring forms a long 'canal' running down the stack.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROTECTIVE TUBE/PASSAGEWAY (The spine is a column with a central conduit for vital neural wiring).
Practice
Quiz
What does the spinal canal primarily contain?