How to Pronounce Spinalis

Say it like this: spy-NAL-is. The first part sounds like the word "spy," then you say "NAL" (rhymes with "pal"), and finish with "is." The stress falls on the middle syllable—NAL—which is the part you say loudest and longest.

Many people stress the first syllable and say SPIN-al-is, but that's incorrect. Remember: the stress goes on the middle syllable, so it's spy-NAL-is, not SPIN-al-is. Think of "spinal" (spy-NAL) and just add "is" at the end.

It breaks into three syllables: spi-nal-is. When you say it aloud slowly, you can hear each part: "spi" (like spy), "nal" (like pal), and "is" (like the ending of analysis).

Spinalis comes from the Latin word "spina," which means spine or backbone. The "-alis" ending is a Latin suffix that means "relating to" or "belonging to." So spinalis literally means "relating to the spine."

Spinalis is the name of a small muscle along your spine. It's part of a larger muscle group that helps you stand up straight and bend backward. Think of it as one of the tiny support columns running down your back.

Words like spinal, spine, and spinal cord all come from the same Latin root "spina." If you know how to say "spinal" (spy-NAL), you already know how to pronounce the "spinal" part of spinalis.

You might hear: "The spinalis muscle is the most medial part of the erector spinae." Or: "Anatomy students learn to identify the spinalis during their study of back muscles."

There isn't a common abbreviation for spinalis by itself. However, it's often written as part of the full name "spinalis thoracis" or "spinalis cervicis" depending on which region of the spine it's in. You'd pronounce these the same way: spy-NAL-is.