Spine Terminology

Three dimensional deformity of the spine appearing before the onset of puberty and before skeletal maturity.

Scoliosis existing after skeletal maturity.  It may be due to untreated adolescent scoliosis, degenerative disease, or other causes.

Blood taken from another individual of the same species of a compatible blood type (A <-- A or O)

Graft taken from a member of the same species.

(ATI)

With trunk flexed 90° at the hips, the angle between the horizontal and the plane across the posterior spine at the greatest elevation of a rib prominence, as measure by an inclinometer (scoliometer).

Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine.  An inflammatory disease of the spine which leads to bony ankylosis of the vertebral articulations.

External part of the intervertebral disc consisting in a ring of fibro cartilaginous tissue that surrounds the nucleus pulposus.

Begins at the anterior aspect of the base of the occipital bone and is attached to the atlas and anterior surface of all vertebrae including part of the sacrum.

A single, unpaired artery that supplies blood to the spinal cord, its membrane and adjacent structures, and is formed by the branch of the vertebral artery on each side and descends in the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord.

The disc most deviated from the vertical axis of the patient.

The vertebra most deviated from the vertical axis of the patient.

One of the three membranes surrounding the brain, spinal cord, and nerve roots.

Disease occurring when the membrane that is in direct contact with the spinal fluid becomes inflamed.  This inflammation causes pain by pressing on the nerves.

The fusion of bones across a joint space, thereby limiting or eliminating motion from the joint.  It may occur spontaneously or as a result of a surgical procedure such as fusion of the spine.

Either of two processes on each side of a vertebra that articulates with adjoining vertebrae.

First cervical vertebra.

Not Traumatic

Any tissue removed from one place in the body and transferred to another site in the same individual.

Patient's own blood or blood components

Collection, processing, and reinfusion of one's own blood (lost due to trauma or surgical procedure)

Second cervical vertebra

Characteristics of some materials.

Bone transplantation

Soft, sponge-like substance found within the internal cavities of bone; major function is to produce red blood cells.

Thin metal device screwed into bones that is used to stabilize bones or other medical devices to bones during the healing process.

A complete network of nerves that is formed chiefly by the lower four cervical nerves and the first thoracic nerve, and supplies nerves to the chest, shoulder, and arm.

A syndrome caused by damage to one half of the spinal cord that results in partial paralysis on the damaged side and loss of pain and temperature sensation on the other.

Piece of medical equipment used to fill the disc space left after a disc has been removed

Accumulation of calcium salts into tissue.

Type of bone with porous structure made up of intersecting plates and bars (lattice-like structure) that form small cavities or cells. Soft, spongy bone.

The ligament which surrounds a movable joint.

Fibrous connective tissue that covers the end of the bone at a joint; this tissue reduces the amount of friction resulting from movement.

The roots of the upper sacral nerves that extend beyond the termination of the spinal cord of the first lumbar vertebra in the form of a bundle of filaments within the spinal canal, resembling a horse's tail.

Toward the tail.

Towards the head.

A plexus formed by the anterior division of the four upper cervical nerves.

Scoliosis having its apex at C1 to the C6-C7 disc.

Portion of the vertebral column contained in the neck, consisting of seven cervical vertebrae between the skull and the rib cage.

Degenerative disease of both the disc and the zygapophyseal joints occurring in the cervical spine.

Scoliosis having its apex at C7, T1 or the intervening disc space.

Pain which lasts a long time (6mo +) and is not relieved by standard medical management.

• Infantile scoliosis - birth through 2
• Juvenile scoliosis - 3 through 10
• Adolescent scoliosis - 11 through 17
• Adult scoliosis - 18+

"Tail bone"; caudal most portion of the vertebral column beyond the sacrum

In spinal deformity, a secondary curve located above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order to maintain normal body alignment.

Loss of bone density makes bones fragile and more likely to break or fracture.  Compression fractures in the spine can cause severe back pain.

depressed or cave-like surface

Existing at or dating from birth.

Scoliosis due to bony abnormalities of the spine present at birth.  These anomalies are classified as failure of vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation.

Conditions under which a device should not be used because the risks associated with the use of the device are greater than the benefits.

A tapering lower part of the spinal cord at the level of the first.

A rounded or elevated surface.

The dense outer layer of bone.

In scoliosis, this refers to loss of spinal balance when the thoracic cage is not centered over the pelvis.

Removal of external or surface layer of bone to make it bleed.

Disorder in which disc degeneration produces clinical symptoms and signs.

A disruption or separation of the ring from the annulus.

Odontoid Process: tooth like process that projects from the anterior end of the centrum of the axis (C2)

Dens: tooth like process that projects from the anterior end of the centrum of the axis (C2)

dehydrating (removal of moisture)

A predisposition or unusual susceptibility to a disease

Therapy in which high-frequency currents produce heat in tissues to treat certain conditions.

Soft tissue acting as a shock-absorber between the intervertebral bodies.

Removal of all or part of an intervertebral disc (the soft tissue that acts as a shock absorber between the vertebral bodies)

Loss of the structural and functional integrity of the disc.

Inflammatory disorder of the intervertebral disc

Remote; far away from the midline of the body

Two lateral curvatures (scoliosis) in the same spine. Double major curve describes a scoliosis in which there are two structural curves which are usually of equal size. Double thoracic curve: a scoliosis with a structural upper thoracic curve, as well as a larger, more deforming lower throacic curve, and a relatively nonstructural lumbar curve.

Scoliosis with two structural curves

Scoliosis with a structural upper thoracic curve, a larger, more deforming lower thoracic and relatively non-structural lumbar curve.

Property of a material to absorb relatively large amount of plastic deformation energy before failure.  Opposite of brittleness.

Tough outer membrane of spinal cord.

A load applied to a specimen that varies with time.

Property of a material or a structure to return to its original form following the removal of the deforming load.

The most cephalad vertebra of a curve whose superior surface or transverse axis, and the most caudal vertebra whose inferior surface or transverse axis, tilts maximally toward the concavity of the curve.

Superficial to the dura mater.

A muscle group that extends the length of the back and neck, arising from the iliac crest, sacrum, lumbar, and two lower thoracic vertebrae, and splits in the upper lumbar region into three divisions.

Essential tremor belongs to a group of conditions called "movement disorders" and is the most common disorder in this group.  Essential tremor patients have no symptoms other than tremor (rhythmic, shaking movement produced by muscle contractions in hands, head, legs, trunk, or voice).  Essential tremor is a progressive disease and tends be hereditary.  Many physicians identify abnormal activity of brain cells as the suspected mechanism of tremor.

Cause of a disease

To turn outward or inside out; externally rotate

On the outer side of the dura mater.

Contact point between adjacent vertebrae; joint of the spine; includes joint capsule, synovial fluid, cartilage, and bony interface of adjacent vertebrae

Excision (removal) of facet

This condition refers to patients who have undergone one or more surgical procedures and continue to experience pain.  Some common diagnoses included in this condition are recurring disc herniation, epidural scarring, or an injured nerve root.  Failed back syndrome may be successfully treated with APT neurostimulation, or APT intrathecal.

Fibrous tissue enclosing muscle

process of birth and growth of cracks in structures subjected to repetitive load

formation of fibrous tissue

Natural cleft, groove, or tear between or within body parts or organs.

Tissue preservation through the use of chemicals or process; Can also refer to immobilization or attachment

Evaluation of the amount of blood flowing through the completed bypass graft

Natural opening or passage into or through a bone

Removal of bone to enlarge a foramen, typically to relieve nerve root compression

Any action that changes the state of rest or motion of an object.  Magnitude measured in Newtons;  Also an energy field, created by and binding all living things in the galaxy, that can be manipulated by unique individuals who can "Use the Force".

Unit of measure for diameter of needles or catheters.  1F = 0.33mm

e.g. 18F = 6mm

Immobilization of two or more vertebrae by binding them to each other (cage, plate, screws/rods, etc)

Structural spinal curvature inherited according to a genetic pattern