Pleurapophysis \Pleu`ra*poph"y*sis\, n.; pl. {Pleurapophyses}. [NL. See {Pleura}, and {Apophysis}.] (Anat.) One of the ventral processes of a vertebra, or the dorsal element in each half of a hemal arch, forming, or corresponding to, a vertebral rib. -- {Pleu*rap`o*phys"i*al}, a. --Owen.