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Glossary of Terms

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

A/P X-ray: X-rays taken with a frontal and back view of the patient's spine.
Abdomen: the belly, that part of the body that contains all of the structures between the chest and the pelvis . The abdomen is separated anatomically from the chest by the diaphragm , the powerful muscle spanning the body cavity below the lungs .
Access: 1. in general, a means of approaching something. 2. In health care, the opportunity or right to receive health care. 3. In dialysis, the point on the body where a needle or catheter is inserted to gain entry to the bloodstream.
Allograft: a piece tissue transplanted from a bone bank to replace one that's damaged or diseased.
Annulus: the outer ring of a vertebral disc.
Anterior: front; anterior refers to the approach used by the surgeon to reach the spine through the front of the the body. Cervical and Lumbar surgeries are done anteriorly.
Arthritis: inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of arthritis.
Arthrodesis:surgical fixation of a joint, ultimately resulting in bone fusion.
Arthropathy: joint disease or abnormality.
Arthroplasty: the operative procedure of reshaping or reconstructing a diseased joint.
Articular: of or relating to a joint or joints.
Artificial Disc: a prosthetic devise with an elastic nucleus similar to a natural disc.
Autograft:a piece of the patient's own tissue transplanted to replace one that's damaged or diseased. Generally, the tissue is taken from the hip.
Avascular: not associated with or filled with blood vessels.

B

Back pain: pain felt in the low or upper back. There are many causes of back pain.
Bending X-ray: X-rays are taken with the patient bending to the right and to the left. These x-rays reveal how flexible the curve is and can give some prediction of the amount of correction that can be obtained with surgery.
Blood: the familiar red fluid in the body that contains white and red blood cells, platelets, proteins, and other elements. The blood is transported throughout the body by the circulatory system. Blood functions in two directions: arterial and venous. Arterial blood is the means by which oxygen and nutrients are transported to tissues while venous blood is the means by which carbon dioxide and metabolic by-products are transported to the lungs and kidneys, respectively, for removal from the body.
BMP: Bone Morphogenetic Protein. A material often used to promote bone growth.
Bone: bone is the substance that forms the skeleton of the body. It is composed chiefly of calcium phosphate and calcium carbonate. It also serves as a storage area for calcium, playing a large role in calcium balance in the blood.
Bone Graft: bone taken from the patient during surgery or a bone substitute that is used to take the place of removed bone or to fill a bony defect.
Bone Spurs: bony projections formed along joints that can limit motion and can cause pain (also called osteophytes).
Bulging Disc: a bulging disc is a slight protrusion of the center of the disc (nucleus pulposus) into the spinal canal. In a bulging disc, the annulus fibrosus (outer ring) has not been ruptured.

C

Cancellous Bone: open, latticed, or porous inner bone structure.
Cartilage: firm, rubbery tissue that cushions bones at joints. A more flexible kind of cartilage connects muscles with bones and makes up other parts of the body, such as the larynx and the outside parts of the ears.
CAT Scan: acronym for Computerized Axial Tomography. It is the use of a computer to produce, from x-ray data, a cross-sectional view of the anatomical part being investigated.
Cauda Equina: a bundle of nerve roots from the lumbar and sacral spinal nerves.
Cauda Equina Syndrome: a rare disorder affecting the bundle of nerve roots at the lower end of the spinal cord.
Cervical spine: refers to the neck; the uppermost region of the backbone, including: the first seven vertebrae, the nerve elements (spinal cord and nerve roots) inside them, and all supporting structures that join them together.
Cobb Measurement: method of measuring the degree of curvature of scoliosis.
Coccyx: the tailbone.
Congenital Scoliosis: 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.
Contraindication:a factor that renders the administration of a drug or device or the carrying out of a medical procedure inadvisable.
Cortical Bone: hard, strong outer shell of bone.
Creeping Substitution: the process by which bone is regenerated after a fusion procedure where the graft is resorbed and replaced by native bone growth where the healing structure of the graft is offset by the bone’s own regeneration ultimately replacing the graft material.

D

Degenerative arthritis: also known as osteoarthritis, this type of arthritis is caused by inflammation, breakdown and eventual loss of the cartilage of the joints. Among the over 100 different types of arthritis conditions, osteoarthritis is the most common, affecting usually the hands, feet, spine, and large weight-bearing joints, such as the hips and knees. Also called degenerative joint disease.
Degenerative Disc Disease: Degenerative Disc Disease refers to the loss of loss of hydration in the disc and weakening of the annulus (outer lining of the disc). Trauma can cause the annulus to tear and disc material leaks out and presses on a nerve. Degenerative disc disease is very common in the human population but is not always symptomatic.
Delayed Union: fusion that takes longer than expected to heal.
Denervation: deprivation of a nerve supply, as by surgically removing or cutting a nerve or by blocking a nerve connection with drugs.
Dilator: a device used to stretch or enlarge an opening. Patients with scarring of the muscular tube through which food passes from the throat to the stomach (esophagus) can require a dilator procedure in order to open the esophagus for adequate passage of food and fluids.
Disc: shortened terminology for an intervertebral disc, a disk-shaped piece of specialized tissue that separates the bones of the spinal column.
Disc degeneration: the deterioration of a disc and possible loss of disc height.
Discectomy: the cutting out (-ectomy) of an intervertebral disc, the removal of a portion of a herniated disc.
Dura Mater: a protective membrane covering the spinal cord and brain.

F

Fluoroscope: a portable x-ray machine used in surgery.
Foramen: an opening or orifice, as in bone.
Fracture:a break in bone or cartilage. Although usually the result of trauma, a fracture can be caused by an acquired disease of bone such as osteoporosis or by abnormal formation of bone in a disease such as osteogenesis imperfecta ("brittle bone disease"). Fractures are classified according to their character and location as, for example, a greenstick fracture of the radius.
Fusion: the joining together of two or more vertebra.

G

Graft: a piece of tissue transplanted to replace one that's damaged or diseased; in this case, a bone graft may be used to fill the emptied intervertebral disc space.

H

Handleability: how the biocomposite handles in the hands of the surgeon and at the graft site
Hardware Fracture: when fusion hardware from fusion breaks down or moves from its correct position.
Hemangioma:a hemangioma is a benign tumor usually found in the thoracic area of the spine. Some patients with hemangioma are asymptomatic, others will report pain at the vertebral level effected by the hemangioma.
Herniated disc: the rupture of the center of an intervertebral disc through its fibrous outer ring and causes compression of the spinal cord or nerve roots; also called ruptured disc or (incorrectly) slipped disc.
Hypertrophy: enlargement of an organ.

I

Idiopathic: of, relating to, or designating a disease having no known cause
Idiopathic Scoliosis: three dimensional deformity where the twisting of the spine is coupled with curvature producing deformity in both coronal and sagittal (side view) planes.
Implant Migration: an intervertebral implant that has moved out of place.
Incision: a cut, when making an incision, a surgeon is making a cut.
Infection: the growth of a parasitic organism within the body. (A parasitic organism is one that lives on or in another organism and draws its nourishment therefrom.) A person with an infection has another organism (a "germ") growing within him, drawing its nourishment from the person.
Injury: harm or hurt, the term "injury" may be applied in medicine to damage inflicted upon oneself as in a hamstring injury or by an external agent on as in a cold injury. The injury may be accidental or deliberate, as with a needlestick injury. The term "injury" may be synonymous (depending on the context) with a wound or with trauma.
Innervation:to supply with nerves; to stimulate to action.
Instability: abnormal or excessive motion between two or more vertebrae.
Intervertebral Disc: a flat, round “cushion” that acts as a shock absorber between vertebrae.
Ischemia: a decrease in the blood supply to a bodily organ, tissue or part caused by constriction or obstruction of the blood vessels.

K

Kyphosis: kyphosis is an abnormal increase in normal kyphotic (posterior) curvature of the thoracic spine which can result in a noticeable round back deformity.

L

Lamina: a part of the vertebra located in the back of the vertebral body.
Laminectomy: performed to relieve pressure on one or more nerve roots. The term is derived from lamina (part of the spinal canal's bony roof), and -ectomy (removal).
Laparoscopic: 1. pertaining to the procedure of laparoscopy, 2. pertaining to a laparoscope, the instrument by which laparoscopy is done.
Lateral X-ray: an X-ray taken from the side.
Levoscoliosis: main curve of the spine is curved to the left side of the body.
Lordosis: lordosis is the abnormal increase in normal lordotic (anterior) curvature of the lumbar spine. This can lead to a noticeable "sway-back" appearance.
Low back pain: pain in the lower back area that can relate to problems with the lumbar spine, the discs between the vertebrae, the ligaments around the spine and discs, the spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, or the skin covering the lumbar area.
Lumbar: referring to the 5 lumbar vertebrae which are situated below the thoracic vertebrae and above the sacral vertebrae in the spinal column. The 5 lumbar vertebrae are represented by the symbols L1 through L5. There are correspondingly 5 lumbar nerves.
Lumbar Spine: refers to the low back; the region of the backbone, including: the five vertebrae L1-L5, the nerve elements (spinal cord and nerve roots) inside them, and all supporting structures that join them together.

M

Microscope: an optical instrument that augments the power of the eye to see small objects. The name microscope was coined by Johannes Faber (1574-1629) who in 1628 borrowed from the Greek to combined micro-, small with skopein, to view. Although the first microscopes were simple microscopes, most (if not all) optical microscopes today are compound microscopes.
Moldability: ability of the biocomposite to mold and fit into the void space
Minimally Invasive: a surgical procedure where a small incision is made and instrumentation is used through this incision.
MRI: acronym for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A device used to provide images of the heart, large blood vessels, the brain, and soft tissue.
Muscle: muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. There are three types of muscle in the body. Muscle which is responsible for moving extremities and external areas of the body is called "skeletal muscle." Heart muscle is called "cardiac muscle." Muscle that is in the walls of arteries and bowel is called "smooth muscle."

N

Narcotic: a drug that causes insensibility or stupor, a narcotic induces narcosis, from the Greek "narke" for "numbness or torpor."
Nerve: a bundle of fibers that uses chemical and electrical signals to transmit sensory and motor information from one body part to another.
Nonunion: fusion does not heal as planned.
Nucleus Pulposus: center of the intervertebral disc.

O

Operation: although there are many meanings to the word "operation", in medicine it refers to a surgical procedure.
Osseous: composed of, containing, or resembling bone; bony.
Osteoarthritis: a degenerative disease of joints resulting from wear of the cartilage.
Osteoid Osteomas: osteoid osteomas is a benign cancer usually found in adolescents, patients usually present with a complaint of severe pain. The treatment plan often includes a CT scan, anti-inflammatory medication, and surgery.
Osteophyte: a small, abnormal bony outgrowth.
Osteophytes: osteophytes or bone spurs, are bony overgrowth at the edge of the joint possibly as a result of arthritis. This boney overgrowth can impinge nerves in the spinal canal, and cause pain.
Oswestry Disability Index: a low back pain disability questionnaire used to measure a patient’s permanent functional disability.

P

Pain: an unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pain has both physical and emotional components. The physical part of pain results from nerve stimulation. Pain may be contained to a discrete area, as in an injury, or it can be more diffuse, as in disorders like fibromyalgia . Pain is mediated by specific nerve fibers that carry the pain impulses to the brain where their conscious appreciation may be modified by many factors.
Pars Defect: stress fracture in the spine.
Pars Interarticularis: a thin slice of bone on the vertebra located between the sides of the facet joint.
Pathophysiology: the functional changes associated with or resulting from disease or injury.
Pedicle: strong portion of the spinal vertebral bone that connects the front of the spine to the back of the spine.
Pelvis: the bony structure formed by the hip bones, sacrum, and coccyx.
Physical therapy: a branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises and equipment to help patients regain or improve their physical abilities. Physical therapists work with many types of patients, from infants born with musculoskeletal birth defects, to adults suffering from sciatica or the after: effects of injury, to elderly post-stroke patients.
Posterior: back; posterior refers to the approach used by the surgeon to reach the spine through the back of the the body.
Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (PLIF): an operation where the lumbar spine is approached from the back through and incision in the lower back.

R

Radiculopathy: nerve pain in the leg or arm which may be amenable to local treatments such as steroid blocks.
Radiographic Evidence: radiopacity over time – the new bone can be seen replacing the biocomposites scaffold as the bone regenerates
Radiopacity: the quality or property of obstructing the passage of radiant energy, such as x-rays, the representative areas appearing light or white on the exposed film, radiopaque
Risser Sign: a pelvic x-ray is taken of a child to determine the skeletal maturity. There is a creasant shape bone development that is classified on a scale of 1 to 5; 5 being mature.
Rotoscoliosis: main curve of the spine is curved to the left side of the body. Sciatica: Term for symptoms such as tingling, numbness, burning along the branches of the Sciatic nerve. These areas include the buttocks, back of the legs, to the ankle and foot.
Rule out: a term much used in medicine, meaning to eliminate or exclude something from consideration. The ACB (albumin cobalt binding) test helps rule out a heart attack in the differential diagnosis of severe chest pain.

S

Sacral Ala: the “wings” of the sacrum that connect the sacrum to the pelvis.
Sacral Spine: lowest portion of the spine below the lumbar spine. The spinal column consists of five bones (vertebrae) labeled S1-S5.
Sacroiliac Joints: joints that connect the sacrum to the pelvis.
Sacrum: large wedge-shaped bone with five fused sacral vertebrae (S1-S5).
Sagittal Plane: longitudinal plane that divides into right and left sections.
Sarcopenia: decrease in muscle mass and strength with age.
Sciatica: pressure on the sciatic nerve, causing pain which radiates from the back to the lower extremities.
Scoliosis: scoliosis is a lateral (sideways) “S-shaped” curvature of the spine.
Spinal Balance: in any spinal procedure, it is essential that the surgeon maintain the natural curvature of your spine.
Spinal Cord Monitoring: during surgery the physician monitors the integrity of the spinal cord. The machine used monitors somatosensory evoked potentials (SEP).
Spinal fusion: a surgical procedure in which two or more of the vertebrae in the spine are united together so that motion no longer occurs between them.
Spine: 1. the column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects the spinal cord. The spine can be categorized according to level of the body: i.e., cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and middle back), and lumbar spine (lower back). 2. any short prominence of bone. The spines of the vertebrae protrude at the base of the back of the neck and in the middle of the back. These spines protect the spinal cord from injury from behind.
Spinous Process: bony portion opposite the body of the vertebra.
Spondylolisthesis: forward displacement of one of the lumbar vertebrae over the vertebrae below it.
Spondylolysis: a crack in the bony ring of the spinal column.
Stenosis: constriction or narrowing of a duct or passage.
Subluxation: incomplete or partial dislocation of a bone in a joint.
Surgeon: a physician who treats disease, injury, or deformity by operative or manual methods. A medical doctor specialized in the removal of organs, masses and tumors and in doing other procedures using a knife (scalpel). The definition of a "surgeon" has begun to blur in recent years as surgeons have begun to minimize the cutting, employ new technologies that are "minimally invasive," use scopes, etc.
Surgery: the word "surgery" has multiple meanings. It is the branch of medicine concerned with diseases and conditions which require or are amenable to operative procedures. Surgery is the work done by a surgeon. By analogy, the work of an editor wielding his pen as a scalpel is s form of surgery. A surgery in England (and some other countries) is a physician's or dentist's office.
Synovial Joint: a structure that allows movement between two bones.
Syrnix: collection of fluid in the spinal cord.

T

TCP: Tricalcium Phosphate
Therapy: the treatment of disease.
Thoracic Spine: refers to the midback; the region of the backbone, including: the twelve vertebrae T1-T12, the nerve elements (spinal cord and nerve roots) inside them, and all supporting structures that join them together
Thoracoplasty: removal of a rib during scoliosis surgery.
Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion (TLIF): an operation where the lumbar spine is approached from the side.
Transverse Processes: small, bony bumps where back muscles attach to vertebrae.
Triphasic: a system or process with three phases or stages of progression.
Triphasic Scaffold: collagen, tricalcium phosphate (TCP) and hydroxyapatite (HA) – each has their own resorption rate and hence resorb differently based on bone regeneration
Tumor: an abnormal mass of tissue. Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be benign or malignant (cancerous). There are dozens of different types of tumors. Their names usually reflect the kind of tissue they arise in, and may also tell you something about their shape or how they grow. For example, a medulloblastoma is a tumor that arises from embryonic cells (a blastoma) in the inner part of the brain (the medulla). Diagnosis depends on the type and location of the tumor. Tumor marker tests and imaging may be used; some tumors can be seen (for example, tumors on the exterior of the skin) or felt (palpated with the hands).

V

Vertebrae: the preferred plural of vertebra. (The alternate plural is vertebras.) Vertebra include cervical vertebrae; coccygeal vertebrae; lumbar vertebrae; sacral vertebrae; and thoracic vertebrae; any one of the 33 bony segments of the spinal column’s composition.
Visual Analog Scale: a tool used to help a person rate the intensity of certain sensations and feelings, such as pain.

W

Whiplash: whiplash refers to a sprain or strain of the muscles in the neck occurring when there is a sudden flexion and extension of the neck.