Glossary of Terms

Annulus fibrosus – The outer, fibrous, ring-like portion of an intervertebral disc.

Anterior – Referring to the front of the body.

Anterolateral – Situated or occurring in front of and to the side.

Arachnoiditis – Inflammation of the arachnoid membrane (the middle of the three protective layers called the meninges), most commonly seen around the spinal cord and cauda equina.

Arthritis – Inflammation of a joint, usually accompanied by swelling, pain, and restriction of motion.

Bone spur – Bony growth or rough edge of bone.

Cauda equina – The collection of nerves at the end of the spinal cord that resembles a horse's tail.

Centrum – The body of a vertebra.

Cervical spine – The neck region of the spine, which consists of the first seven vertebrae.

Coccyx – More commonly known as the tailbone, this is a bony structure in the region of the spine below the sacrum.

Conus medullaris – The cone-shaped bottom of the spinal cord.

Disc (Intervertebral) – A tough, elastic cushion located between the vertebrae in the spinal column; acts as a shock absorber for the vertebrae.

Disc degeneration – Degeneration or wearing out of a disc. A disc in the spine may deteriorate or wear out over time. A deteriorated disc may or may not cause pain.

Distal – Located farther away or downstream.

Facet – A posterior structure of a vertebra which articulates (joins) with a facet of an adjacent vertebra to form a facet joint that allows motion in the spinal column. Each vertebra has a right and left superior (upper) facet and a right and left inferior (lower) facet.

Foramen – A normally occurring opening or passage in the vertebrae of the spine through which the spinal nerve roots travel.

Herniated disc – Condition in which the gelatinous core material of a disc bulges or ruptures out of its normal position and may exert pressure on the surrounding nerve root and/or spinal cord.

Joint – The junction or articulation of two or more bones that permits varying degrees of motion between the bones.

Lamina – The flattened or arched part of the vertebral arch, forming the roof or back part of the spinal canal.

Lateral – Situated on the side, or away from the midline of the body.

Ligament – Fibrous connective tissue that links together bones at joints or that passes between bones of the spine.

Lumbar spine – The lower back region of the spine, which consists of the five vertebrae between the ribs and the pelvis.

Nerves – Neural tissue that conducts electrical impulses (messages) from the brain and spinal cord to all other parts of the body and/or conveys sensory information from the body to the central nervous system.

Nerve root – The initial portion of a spinal nerve as it originates from the spinal cord.

Neural arch – The bony arch of the back part of a vertebra that surrounds the spinal cord, also referred to as the vertebral arch.

Pedicle – The bony part of each side of the neural arch of a vertebra that connects the lamina (back part) with the vertebral body (front part).

Posterior – The back or rear side of the body.

Proximal – Located closer or upstream.

Rotation – Twisting movement of one vertebra on another as a patient turns from one side to the other.

Sacrum – Part of the pelvis just above the coccyx (tailbone) and below the lumbar spine (low back).

Sciatica – A lay term indicating pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, especially noted in the back of the buttocks and running down the back of the leg and thigh and below the knee.

Scoliosis – Abnormal lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine.

Spinal canal – A bony channel located in the vertebral column that protects the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Spinal cord – The longitudinal cord of nerve tissue that is enclosed in the spinal canal. It serves not only as a pathway for nerve impulses to and from the brain, but also as a center for carrying out and coordinating reflex actions independently of the brain.

Spinal stenosis – Abnormal narrowing of the vertebral column that may result in pressure on the spinal cord, spinal sac, or nerve roots arising from the spinal cord.

Spine – The flexible bone column extending from the base of the skull to the tailbone. It is made of 33 bones known as vertebrae. The spine is also referred to as the vertebral column, spinal column or backbone.

Spondylitis – Inflammation of vertebrae.

Spondylolisthesis – The forward displacement or "slippage" of one vertebra on another.

Spondylosis – Degenerative bony changes in the spine, usually most marked at the vertebral joints.

Superior – Situated above or directed upward, toward the head of an individual.

Thoracic spine – The region of the spine attached to the ribcage, between the cervical and lumbar areas, which consists of 12 vertebrae.

Vertebrae – The 33 bones that make up the spine, individually referred to as a vertebra. They are divided into the cervical spine (neck), the thoracic spine (upper back or rib cage), the lumbar spine (lower back), and the sacral spine (pelvis or base of the spine).