A
Achondroplastic Stenosis – When pedicles experience shortened lengths and there is a thickening of vertebral
Acute – Intense, critical
Adolescent Scoliosis – Scoliosis (spine developing a curvature) that begins in adolescence
Adult Scoliosis – Scoliosis (spine developing a curvature) that begins after adolescence
Afferent Neuron – A neuron sent from one part of the body to the central nervous system
Allograft – Used for spinal fusions, referring to a bone graft where the source of the bone is another individual
Analgesia – The loss of any sensation of pain
Anesthesia – Anesthetic drugs causing loss of consciousness or sensation to a part of the body
Anesthetist – A physician specifically trained to handle pain and anesthesia
Anterior – Front
Anterior Approach – When a procedure involves going through the body front to reach the spine
Anterior Cervical Discectomy – To remove herniated discs, this procedure requires approaching from the neck front
Anterior Cervical Decompression Fusion – A procedure involving the decompression of nerve roots along the upper spine
Anterior Displacement – A vertebral segment’s movement forward, causing displacement
Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) – A procedure involving lumbar spinal fusion in which the surgeon begins at the front
Anterior lateral – Front and side approaches
Anterior Lateral Approach – A procedure involving rib resection in which the surgeon approaches from the side
Anti-coagulant – Blood-thinning medication
Arachnoid – A fine and delicate membrane that sits between the pia mater and the dura mater, covering the spinal cord and the brain
Arthralgia – Pain of the joints
Arthritis – A condition in which a joint experiencing pain and swelling due to inflammation
Arthrodesis – When bones are fused together along a joint; this can occur on its own or due to surgical fusion
Arthroplasty – A procedure where a joint is replaced or remodeled to restore its function
Atlas – The superior cervical vertebra in the spine
Atrophy – The slow decay or rot of body tissue from lack of use
Autogenous Bone – A bone that comes from the same patient
Autologus – Referring to the process when a person has a bone graft for themselves
Avascular – When a structure is lacking blood vessels
B
Back Ache – Any and all pain located in the back or spine
Backbone – The spine
Benign – Not cancerous, meaning it will stay in its location
Bio Compatibility – A foreign material that does not cause any immune response in a human
Biopsy – Bone or tissue for test purposes
BMP – Bone Morphogenic Protein
Bone – The calciferous material that makes up the framework of the body’s muscles and tendons in a skeletal structure
Bone Derivative – A certain bone-sourced substance
Bone Graft Substitute – A non-bone material with the intention to initiate bone growth
Bone Graft – Bone sourced from one place for another in the same person
Bone Harvesting – Taking bones from one place to another site
Bone Plate – Made of titanium or metal, used to fix bones in place
Bone Screws – Used to keep bone plates against bones
Bovine Bone Graft – Bone grafts sourced from cows
Brace – An item that helps keep the back fixed
C
Cancellous Bone – This is inside of long bones, as a structure similar to a honeycomb
Carotid Artery – The vessel that supplies much blood to the brain and head
Cartilage – Tissue that wraps over bones at the ends, reducing joint friction
Cauda Equina – Nerve roots that lead to the lower half of the body
Cauda Equina Syndrome – The condition in which nerve roots are irritate, leading to abnormalities of bladder function
Centrum – Vertebrae body
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) – A fluid that keeps the spinal cord and brain safe from shock
Cervical – The neck area
Cervical Collar – A band patients wear around the neck after surgery or injury
Cervical Plexus – Nerves that connect to the muscles in the neck
Cervical Decompression – The freeing or decompression of cervical nerve roots
Cervical Fusion – Bone plates, cages, and bone screws used to fixate cervical vertebrae
Coagulation – Referring to blood clotting
Cobult – Chrome – A mixture of metals, used for implants
Coccyx – When the bottom 4 bones of the spine are fused into a single structure
Collagen – The protein that makes up bones, cartilage, tendons, skin, and more
Compensatory Curve – The curve that keeps the body stable below or above site of scoliosis
Compression – Squeezing or pressing an area tighter
Computer Tomography (CT) – A scan that produces a 3D image of bone or tissue
Congenital Scoliosis – Scoliosis caused by genes
Contrast Medium – A fluid that defines structures during a procedure
Cortical Bone – A bone’s outer layer
Cytology – Study of cells
D
Decompression – Procedures that remove stress or pressure on nerve roots
Degenerative Disc Disease – Loss of functional and structural integrity of discs
Degenerative Stenosis – Gradual degeneration or narrowing o facet joints and vertebral margins
Demineralized Bone – When inorganic mineral is removed from allograft bone, leaving behind collagen
Dermatome – A single spinal nerve supplies this area of skin
Disc – Specialized tissue that rests between the bones in the spine
Discitis – Inflammation between intervertebral discs
Discogram – A procedure that examines intervertebral discs with x-rays
Distal – In terms of location, this is away from the joint or attachment
Dysesthesia – A strange, painful sense of touch
Dysplastic – Having abnormal development or cells
E
Edema – Extra cellular fluid
Electroencephalography (EEG) – The study of the brain’s electrical activity
Endogenous – Coming from inside a body
Epidural – The area beyond the dura mata
Esophagus – The tube that connects the stomach to the mouth where food travels
Excision – Removing body tissue
Exogenous – Not coming from inside a body
Extrusion – Disc material that is still part of the central disc but has herniated
F
Facet – Every vertebrae has its own inferior and superior facet which make up the joints
Facet Arthropathy – The degeneration of facet joints
Facectomy – Removal of articular facet
Fibrosis – Using hardened scar tissue to take the place of regular tissue
Flattening of the Normal Lumbar Curve – Shallow lumbar curves
Flexion – Flexing or bending in a forward direction
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – A government agency of the United States that applies regulations over food, medical devices, and drugs
Foramen – The passage inside a bone where spinal nerve roots pass
Foraminotomy – When the foramen is widened or opened in surgery
Fracture – When bone length is disrupted in some way
Functional Scoliosis – A normal spine in structure that has scoliosis (a curve)
Fusion – Healing of bone
G
Graft – Bone or tissue to be used for transplantation
H
Hemangioma – A non-cancerous tumor made up entirely of blood cells
Hematoma – The blood that turns into a clot
Hematomyelia – The spinal cord with a hematoma
Hematorrhachis – A hemorrhage based inside of the vertebral canal
Hemi – A single side
Hemi Atrophy – The waste or rot of a single side of a body or organ
Hemi Laminectomy – Referring to the removal of a single side of the lamina
Hemiplegia – When a single side of the body experiences paralysis
Haemorrhage – Bleeding caused by blood leaving through blood vessels
Hereditary – Genetic traits or DNA passed on from parent to offspring
Herniation Intervertebral Disc (HID) – When a bulging part of a disc forms an outpouching that presses into an individual’s vertebral canal
Herniation of Nucleus Pulposus (HNP) – The prolapse or extrusion of a disc within a tear around the annulus fibrosus, causing pain
Herniation – Protrusion
Heterotopic Bone Formation – A condition in which bone grows in an unusual area
Hyoid Bone – A bone beside the trachea
Hyper – Excessive, over average
Hyperesthesia – Having above normal sensitivity to stimuli and touch
Hyperextension – A limb or spine that has been bent backward beyond normal range
Hyperflexion – A limb or spine that has been bent forward beyond normal range
Hyperthermia – The condition in which the body is well above normal temperature
Hyperlordosis – This condition is also known as saddleback, and refers to the intense inward curve of the lower back
Hypothermia – The condition in which the body is well below normal temperature
I
Idioopathic – The source or origin of which is unknown
Idiopathic Scoliosis – Unusual curve of the spine with unknown origin
Iliac Crest – A large part of the pelvic bone that is often used for bone grafts
Immobilization of the Back – Fixating of the back to boost healing
Infantile Scoliosis – Scoliosis (spine developing a curvature) that begins during infancy (3 years and younger)
Instrumentation – The involvement of surgical instruments during surgery
Interbody – The space between two vertebrae
Interspinous Ligament – Between spinous processes, this is the ligament
Interspinous Pseudarthrosis – When a false joint forms between a pair of spinous processes
Intervertebral Discs – Refer to disc
Intervertebral Disc Narrowing – When the space between adjacent vertebral bodies becomes smaller
Invivo – Inside of a body that is alive
Inferior – Below
Informed Consent – The documents a patient signs to indicate they understand the surgery
Ischemia – A lack of blood circulation pumped towards the brain
Isthmic – Relating to anatomical isthmus, in which a vertebral body slides forward
J
Joint – The part that connects multiple bones, allowing for a range of movement
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis – A condition of inflammatory joint disease experienced by children
Juvenile Scoliosis – Scoliosis (spine developing a curvature) that begins during childhood (3-10 years of age)
K
Kinect – Movement
Kyphosis – A condition of the spine in which the curve is deformed, causing hump back
L
Lamina – The section of the vertebral arch that goes over the nerves and spinal cord
Laminectomy – Removal of a single or multiple laminae
Lateral – The side
Ligament – Tissue that is attached to the ends of bones, providing motion and stability with its flexibility
Lipoma – A non-cancerous fatty tumor
Lordoscoliosis – Spinal curve that is backward
Lordosis – An average forward curve in the spine
Lumbago – Lower back pain
Lumbar – The part of the spine that sits between the sacrum and the thoracic spine
Lumbar Curve – A curve from the first to the fifth vertebrae of the spine
Lumbar Kyphosis – When the lower back’s regular curve becomes reversed
Luxation – The dislocation of a bone
M
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – A test that creates an image of the body with a series of x-rays joined together
Malignant – Causing cancer
Marginal Osteophytes – Small protrusions of the bone at the ends of the vertebral body
Medial – Around the middle area of the body
Minimally Invasive Surgery – Surgery that uses only small cuts and incisions
Myelalgia – Pain or discomfort that originates at the spinal cord
Myelapoplexy – A spinal cord disorder that leads to a weakening of nerve strength
Myelatelia – Spinal cord with abnormal developments
Mylogram – A spinal canal x-ray with the use of a contrast injection within the CSF
N
Nerve – A cord of myelinated and unmyelinated fibers
Nerve Root – The end of a nerve, around the spinal cord
Neural Arch – The curved part of the vertebra that the spinal cord passes through
Neuralgia – Pain that shoots down a single or various nerves
Neurectomy – Removal of a section of a nerve
Neuritis – The condition in which a nerve experiences inflammation
Neurolysis – Removal of the nerve’s or nerve root’s scar tissue
Neuroma – A tumor composed of nerve fibers
Neuromuscular Scoliosis – A muscle disorder causing scoliosis
Neuropathic Pain – Pain that is felt as stabbing or burning caused by nerve tissue damage
Neuropathy – Also known as peripheral neuropathy, causing weakness and numbness in feet and hands
Neurostimulation – A wired device inserted through surgery that is meant to stop pain
Neurosurgery – A subspecialty that specifically works on the brain, spinal cord, and surrounding areas
Non Union – When a fracture fails to heal
O
Occiput – A skull’s base
Olisthy – The slipping or dislocating of bones
Orthopaedic – A subspecialty of medicine that focuses on the musculoskeletal system, including spinal disorders
Osteoinductive – Something which helps to promote bone growth
Ossification – Bone formation
Osteomyelitis – Bone inflammation caused by ineffective process
Osteophyte – Overgrowth in a bone
Osteoporosis – A condition in which a bone becomes soft due to density loss
P
Pain – A discomforting sensation associated with tissue damage
Paraplegia – Paralysis of everything below the waist
Paravertebral Muscle Spasm – Muscle spasms alongside the spinous process
Pars Interarticulars – The facets are connected with the “pars”
Pathology – The study of diseases and illnesses
Pedicle – Joining the vertebral body and the lamina, this is the neural arch’s strongest section
Physiotherapy – The therapy focused on exercising body parts to regain movement and flexibility
Piriformis Syndrome – Related to sciatica, or pain in the buttocks down to the thigh
Platysma – The thin layer of muscle along the anterior of the neck
Plexus – A collection of lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, and nerves
Posterior – The back side
Posterior Fusion – Approaching a fusion in the lumbar, thoracic, or cervical areas from the back
Prosthesis – Surgical implants
Proximal – Close to the center
Pseudoarthrosis – Non union in which there is a false joint created by the fusion
Q
Quadriplegia – Paralysis of the arms and legs
R
Rachialgia – Pain originating in the vertebral column
Rachicentisis – The process of puncturing the lumbar to assess the spinal fluid
Rachiocampsis – The spinal curvature
Rachiopathy – All conditions or diseases related to the spine
Rachioscoliosis – The spinal lateral curvature
Radiologist – A type of doctor that has specialized in understanding scans; MRI, CT, and X-rays
Recombinant Human Protein – Proteins that use recombinant DNA technology for the purpose of created engineered proteins that act like real proteins
Referred Pain – Pain that is distant from its cause or origin
Reflex – A reaction that is involuntary
Retrolisthesis – Posterior displacement of a vertebral body in relation to adjacent vertebra
Rhizolysis – When the vertebral nerve root becomes freed
S
Sacral – Relating to the sacrum which is the lowest five fused segment in the spinal column
Sagittal – Longitudinal plane that divides the body into right and left parts
Sciatica – Pain triggered by the sciatic nerve characterized as a pain from the buttocks to the posterior thigh
Scoliosis – A medical condition wherein the spine is laterally curved
Spinal Canal – The bony canal that encases the spinal cord
Spinal Cord – A series of nerves that connect the spinal channel, ending at the level of L1
Spinal Fusion – A medical procedure that involves the strengthening and stablization of the spinal column
Spinal Stenosis – Nerve root compression due to the narrowing of the spinal canal
Spine – Series of 33 flexible bones that support the torso and lower back
Spinous Process – The arch that extends posteriorly and can be traced under the skin
Spondylarthritis – Spine arthritis
Spondylitis – When the spine is inflamed
Spondylolisthesis – Verterbral displacement that can be a result of natural degeneration, trauma, or genetics
Spondylolysis – A detectable anomaly in the arch between the inferior and superior regions
Spondylopathy – A general term for spine disorders
Spondylosis – Gradual degeneration of ligament around the disc that often leads to immobilization
Stenosis – Shrinking of the spinal canal or lateral foramen, leading to pressure in the spinal nerve roots
T
Tendon – Collection of fibrous, collagen-rich tissue that connects muscle to bone
Tension – When something is taut or stretched
Thoracic – Spinal region that concerns the chest
Thrombus – Arterial blood clot
Tissue – Similar cells combined that create a separate structure
Titanium – Safe metallic element commonly used as surgical implants
Toxicology – Study of substances and the consequences of overexposure to the body
Traction – The act of pulling towards the surface
Transitional Vertebrae – A condition wherein the spine behaves like the two types of vertebra
Transverse – Lying or extending across a body part
Transverse Process – Small projection on the left and right side of each vertebrae
U
Ultra Sound – Usage of sound waves to project visuals of internal body systems
Unconvertebral – A spinal condition that results in the formation of abnormal hooks in the vertebrae
Uni – Prefix meaning one-sided
Union – Fusion of bone or tissue as a way of healing and restoration
Ureter – Duct connecting kidney to the bladder
V
Vagus Nerve – 10th cranial nerves that support motor function
Vascular – Anything relating to vessels, specifically blood vessels
Vasoconstriction – Abnormal shrinkage of blood vessels
Vasodilatation – Blood vessel growth resulting in a wider diameter
Vasospasm – Constriction of blood vessel that reduces flow rate and size
Vertebra – Singular term for one of the 33 bones that comprise the spine
Vertebral Body – Primary rectangular region of the vertebra
W
Whiplash – Describes the overextension or flexing of the neck region
Wire – Metal thread commonly used for fusion surgeries and fracture reparations
X
Xenograft – Graft or organ transplant from a different donor species
X-Ray – Production of images of the bone in the body through the ionization of electromagnetic radiation
Xylocaine – Common type of local anaesthetic. Also referred to as lidocaine
Z
Z Plasty – Cosmetic surgery that improves the appearance of scars by elongating or rotating the scar line