The word "prorachis" is a term used in veterinary medicine to refer to the anterior part of a bird's spinal column. The spelling of this word may seem confusing to those unfamiliar with its origins, but it can be broken down using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) as "proʊˈreɪkɪs". The "pro-" prefix indicates "before" or "in front of", while "rachis" means "spinal column". This helps to explain the meaning behind the word and its spelling.