Final answer:
The technical names for bacterial shapes include bacilli for rod-shaped, cocci for spherical-shaped, and spirillum, vibrio, or spirochete for various forms of spiral-shaped bacteria.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technical names for bacteria based on their shape are as follows: rod-shaped bacteria are called bacilli, spherical-shaped bacteria are known as cocci, and the term for a single bent cell that represents a type of spiral bacterium is vibrio for less tightly coiled organisms, spirillum for more rigid helical forms, or spirochete for more flexible helical forms.
These terms are essential in microbiology for identifying and classifying bacteria. For example, the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, which causes cholera, is recognized by its characteristic curved rod shape. Knowing the shape can also give clues about the bacteria's mobility, habitat, and the diseases they might cause.