acantha

plural acanthas

1. biologyA prickle.
2. biologyA spine or prickly fin.
3. anatomyA spinous process of a vertebra.

   Moreover, all the outgrowths which I have said constitute the acantha are not of equal size in all the vertebrae, and Nature has done this with wonderful forethought.

   1968, Margaret Tallmadge May, Galen on the usefulness of the parts of the body, translation of original by Galen, page 581

   2 more examples

   Individual vertebral bodies (right) as seen from the side and from above. The acantha is the spiney projection on the right of each illustration: in the lower illustration the boney spinal canal is shown between the acantha and the vertebral body.

   1980, Renate Zauner, Speaking of Children's Posture Problems and the Injuries They Cause, page 55

   Rotary strokes or stationary circles in the direction of the flank / Alternate from the acantha of the vertebral column in the direction of the flank (medial to lateral)

   2005, Michael Foeldi, Roman Strossenreuther, Foundations of Manual Lymph Drainage, page 73