| Analgesic: |
A drug that alleviates pain
without causing loss of consciousness. |
| Anaesthesia: |
A drug that blocks pain impulses from nerves. With general
anaesthesia you are unconscious, or asleep. With local anaesthesia you
are conscious, or awake. |
| Annulus fibrosus: |
Fibrous ring of intervertebral
disk. |
| Anterior: |
Toward the front of the body. |
| Artifact: |
An abnormality in an image
resulting in distortion and interference. |
CAT or CT Scan
(Computerized Axial Tomography): |
A test that uses x-rays and computer analysis to create the
three-dimensional pictures of the inside of your body. |
| Cauda equina syndrome: |
The cauda equina is a bundle of
nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord. Cauda equina syndrome is
severe compression of the cauda equina resulting in loss of bowel or
bladder function, loss of sensation in the buttocks and groin, and
weakness in the legs. |
| Corticosteroid: |
A medicine that reduces swelling, or inflammation. |
| Degenerative: |
Undergoing degeneration: growing
less healthy over time. |
| Extension: |
Bending backward, standing upright. |
| Facet: |
Surfaces where two vertebrae meet
and articulate (move) forming a joint. |
| Facetectomy: |
A surgery to remove part of the facet. To prevent a
degenerated facet from pinching a nerve. |
| Flexion: |
Bending forward, or sitting. |
| Foramen: |
A natural opening or passage in bone for nerves and blood
vessels. |
| Foraminotomy: |
A surgery to make the foramen
larger. To provide more space for the nerves and blood
vessels. |
| Fusion: |
A surgery to permanently join the vertebrae together. |
| Interspinous Ligament: |
Spinal ligament that extends from
one spinous process to the other. |
| Interspinous Process Decompression (IPD®): |
A surgery in which an implant, called the X-STOP®, is placed
between the spinous processes. |
| Interspinous Space: |
The space between the spinous
processes of the vertebrae.
The discs help cushion the spine from
stress during everyday activities (i.e., walking, bending, sitting,
etc.).
|
| Lamina: |
A part of a vertebra forming the roof of the spinal
canal. |
| Laminectomy: |
A surgery to remove the lamina.
The purpose is to allow more room for the spinal cord and
nerves. |
Laminotomy:
|
A surgery to remove part of the lamina. This is done to allow
more room for the spinal cord and nerves. |
| Lateral: |
Away from the midline of the
body. |
| Ligaments: |
A band of elastic and strong tissue linking two bones. |
| Lumbar Spinal Stenosis: |
A spinal disease that
causes narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing pinches the
nerves and causes pain symptoms. |
Lumbar:
|
The lower part of the spine. |
MRI (Magnetic Resonance
Imaging):
|
A test that uses magnetic fields
to create detailed pictures of the inside of your body. |
| Myelogram: |
A diagnostic procedure in which a dye is injected into the
spinal canal before an x-ray is performed.
The dye makes the
spinal canal and nerve roots easier to see on x-ray film.
|
| Nerve Compression: |
Pressure on a nerve; may cause
nerve damage and muscle weakness. |
| Nerve root: |
The start of the nerve as it leaves the spinal cord (and passes
through the foramen) |
Nerves:
|
Fibers containing nerve cells that
send messages between the brain and the rest of the body. |
| Neural: |
Concerning the nervous system. |
| Neurogenic Intermittend
Claudication: |
Numbness, weakness and discomfort in the legs and may or may not be associated with back pain. |
| Nucleus Pulposus: |
Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of
the spinal disc. |
| Osteophyte: |
A bony outgrowth on the edge of a
vertebra, also known as a bone spur. |
| PEEK: |
A polymer with similar stiffness
as cortical bone. |
| Posterior: |
Toward the back of the body. |
| Spinal Canal: |
The bony channel that contains the spinal cord. |
| Spinal Cord: |
A bundle of nerves that carries
messages between the brain and the rest of the body. |
Spinal Stenosis:
|
Narrowing of the spinal canal. |
| Spinous Process: |
A part of the vertebra. A spinous
process protrudes from each vertebra. The spinous processes create
the "bumps" you feel in the middle of your back. |
Spondylolisthesis:
|
A condition in which one vertebra slips forward in relation to
the vetebra below it. |
| Supraspinous Ligament: |
Spinal ligament that passes over
and attaches to the tips of the spinous processes. |
Vertebra:
|
A bone of the spinal column. There
are five (5) lumbar vertebrae. |
| X-STOPPK® device: |
A PEEK implant that fits between
the spinous processes.
|
