centrum

bone

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June 24, 2026

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The centrum is the main body of a vertebra, located ventral to the neural arch. This structure is a key component of the vertebral column, which protects the spinal cord and provides body support.12

In vertebrate development, the centrum originates from the sclerotome, a part of the mesodermal somites. These cells migrate to surround the notochord, forming the precursor, or blastema, of the centrum. This mesenchymal blastema then undergoes chondrification (turning into cartilage) and ossification (bone formation) to become the bony centrum of a mature vertebra. In higher vertebrates, the centra are separated by intervertebral disks, which act as shock absorbers.32

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vertebral column
…of a ventral body, or centrum, surmounted by a Y-shaped neural arch. The arch extends a spinous process (projection) downward and backward that may be felt as a series of bumps down the back, and two transverse processes, one to either side, which provide attachment for muscles and ligaments. Together…
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…of a ventral body, or centrum, surmounted by a Y-shaped neural arch. The arch extends a spinous process (projection) downward and backward that may be felt as a series of bumps down the back, and two transverse processes, one to either side, which provide attachment for muscles and ligaments. Together…
Read More