Glossary

Acquired - of or relating to a disease, condition, or characteristic that is not congenital but develops after birth, or, resulting from exposure to something, such as an antigen or antibiotic

Acquired stenosis - a narrowing of the spinal canal that is not congenital but develops after birth, or, resulting from exposure to something, such as an antigen or antibiotic

Afebrile - without fever

Allograft - bone from another person (cadaver)

Autograft - bone taken from the patient

Auto transfusion - transfusion of the patient's own blood

Bone graft bone - bone placed in or on the spine to achieve a fusion or union between vertebra

Cage - a metallic implant containing a cavity filled with bone graft

Cancellous bone - honeycomb bone located in the shaft or central areas of the bone

Corpectomy - resection of a vertebra, usually performed to relieve pressure on the spinal cord

Congenital - of or relating to a condition that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences

Congenital stenosis - a narrowing of the spinal canal that is present at birth, as a result of either heredity or environmental influences

Cortical bone - the dense hard outer shell of a bone

CT scan - Computed tomography scans use x-rays to produce precise cross-sectional images of anatomical structures

Decompression - removal of bone, ligament, or disc to relieve pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord

Decorticate - removal of the outer hard layer of a bone

Degenerative - resulting due to degeneration and shifting out the facet joints

Discectomy - removal of disc either partially or completely

Discogram - injection of dye into a disc

Dura - the covering of the spinal cord and nerve roots containing the cerebral spinal fluid

Dural tear - a tear in the covering of the spinal cord and nerve roots

Extension - bending backward or arching of the spine

Fascia - a strong thick flat layer which envelops muscle

Femoral nerve - a large nerve running through the groin and anterior thigh; originates from the L2, L3 and L4 nerve roots

Femoral rings - cadaver bone grafts taken from the femur (long bone of the thigh)

Fibrous union - development of dense scar connecting bones rather than fusion

Flexion - bending forward

Foramenotomy - enlargement of the neural foramen

Fusion - creating a connection or bone bridge between two vertebra or bones

Great vessels - the aorta and vena cava, which lie along the front of the spine

Herniated disc - the protrusion of a degenerated or fragmented intervertebral disk into the intervertebral foramen, compressing the nerve root

Horner's Syndrome - irritation or damage to the cervical sympathetic ganglion resulting in ptosis (drooping eyelid), miosis (small pupil), and anyhdrosis (dry eye)

Iliac artery - the aorta splits into two vessels called the iliac which supply the lower extremities

Iliac vein - the vena cava forms from two iliac veins returning blood from the lower extremities

Instability - abnormal motion or shifting of the spine which may result in a painful condition or nerve compression

Instrumentation - metallic plates, rods, hooks, screws or cages attached to or inserted in the spine to achieve stability and enhance fusion

Isthmic - resulting from a fracture through the pars

Jugular vein - two large veins, internal and external, traveling along the anterior neck on both sides

Kyphosis - excessive bending forward or rounded curvature of the spine

Lamina - bone forming the arch or posterior wall of the spinal canal

Laminectomy - surgical removal of the posterior arch of a vertebra

Laminotomy - partial removal or creating an opening in the lamina

Laparoscopic - visualization inside the abdomen using fiber-optic cameras inserted through small openings

Lateral recess - the space in the spinal canal between the posterior edge of the disc and the anterior surface of the facet joint; a common location of nerve impingement

Ligamentum flavum - ligaments connecting from one lamina to another; ligamentum overlying the spinal canal

Ligamentous - of, relating to, or characteristic of a ligament

Lumbar - pertaining to the low back or lower five vertebra

Lumbar decompression - removal of bone, ligament, or disc to relieve pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord in the lumbar spine

Lumbar laminectomy - surgical removal of the posterior arch of a vertebra in the lumbar spine

Lumbosacral orthosis - a brace stabilizing the lumbar spine and pelvis

Lleus - a decrease or absence of bowel activity

MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging: The use of a nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer to produce electronic images of specific atoms and molecular structures in solids, especially human cells, tissues, and organs

Marrow - immature blood cells contained in bone

Magnifying loupes - special magnifying lenses for use in surgery

Medial - relating to, situated in, or extending toward the middle; median

Microdiscectomy - surgical removal of a disc through a minimal incision performed with the assistance of a microscope

Microsurgery - surgery on minute body structures or cells performed with the aid of a microscope and other specialized instruments, such as a micromanipulator

Muscle fascia - same as fascia

Myelography - injection of dye into the spinal fluid which can be visualized on x-ray identifying areas of pressure on the spinal nerves or cord

Nerve root - name given to nerves as they exit the spinal canal

Neural foramen - opening between vertebra through which the nerve root exits

Neurological deficit - abnormalities such as weakness, numbness, or reflex loss

Nuclear material - soft tissue within the nucleus, or central part, of a disc

Nucleus - the central gelatinous portion of a disc surrounded by the annulus

Olisthesis - rotation or slippage sideways of one vertebra on the vertebra below

Paraparesis - weakness of the lower extremities

Paraspinous - off to the side or away from the midline of the spine

Pelvis - ring of bone between the spine and legs; made up of two pairs of bones, the ileum, the ischium, and sacrum

Periosteum - a thin layer of tissue covering bone

Peritoneum - the sac or lining around the bowels and abdominal content

Platysma - thin muscle overlying the anterior neck

Posterior longitudinal ligament - thick ligament running along the midline of the vertebra the entire spine

Post Laminectomy - resulting from surgical remove off the facet joints

Pseudoarthrosis - failure of fusion or bony union to occur between two vertebrae or bones

Retrograde ejaculation - semen enters the bladder during orgasm rather than being ejaculated from the penis

Radicular pain - ...

Retrolisthesis - slippage backwards of one vertebra on the vertebra below

Retroperitoneal - exposure of the spine directly through the abdomen

R.S.D. - Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Scapula - flat bone behind the shoulder lying against the rib cage

Sciatic nerve - the nerve running along the buttocks, posterior thigh and leg, originating primarily from the L5 and S1 nerve roots

Sciatic notch - area of buttocks where sciatic nerve exits below the pelvis before passing behind the hip

Scoliosis - curvature of the spine from side to side

Signal intensity - brightness of a tissue or structure on MRI

Spinal canal - between head and pelvis through which spinal cord and nerve roots travel surrounded by vertebra and ligaments

Spinal stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal; this may occur in the central lateral recess or foraminal area of the spinal canal

Spondylolisthesis - forward slippage of one vertebra on the vertebra below

Spondylosis - bone spurs along the margin of the disc

Stenosis - narrowing of the spinal canal; this may occur in the central lateral recess or foraminal area of the spinal canal

Sternocleidomastoid - a muscle on both sides of the neck which rotates the head

Subcutaneous - layer below the skin, mostly fat

Subcuticular suture - a suture in the fatty layer below the skin

Supraclavicular fossa - a space above the clavicle(collar bone)

Sympathetic chain - a network of nerves along the anterior cervical and lumbar spine which control multiple functions including constriction and expansion of vessels

Strut graft - a long section of bone used to replace one or more vertebra

Subcuticular - below the skin

Subluxation - shifting of a joint or vertebra

Tendonitis - inflammation of a tendon

Thoracic - pertaining to the chest region of the spine

Thrombosis - blood clot

Trachea - the wind pipe or to the off cartilage connecting the nose and mouth to the lungs

Traction - stretch

Transabdominal - exposure of the spine brhinf the peritoneum directly through the abdomen

Tricortical iliac crest - a type of bone graft having three hard, or cortical surfaces, with a central cancellous core

Vertebra - bone segment of the spine, comprised of multiple parts including body, lamina, spinous and transverse process, pedicle, and facet joint