Which term root means vertebra?

• A. Lamina
• B. Spondyl
• C. Pedicle
• D. Myelo

Answer: (B)

Spondyl- is the root that means vertebra. It comes from Greek spondylos, referring to the vertebrae of the spine, and it shows up in terms describing the spine itself, such as spondylitis or spondylosis. That direct association with vertebrae is why it’s the correct root for identifying vertebra.

Lamina refers to a specific part of a vertebra—the plate-like piece forming part of the posterior arch—so it describes a structure within the vertebra rather than the vertebra as a whole. Pedicle is the stalk connecting the vertebral body to the arch, another specific part rather than the whole bone. Myelo means the spinal cord (or sometimes bone marrow in other contexts), not the vertebra itself.