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F
G H I J
K L
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F
FACET - a flat, platelike surface that acts as part of a joint;
as seen in the vertebrae of the spine and in the subtalar
joint of the ankle. Each vertebra has two superior and two
inferior facets.
FACET ARTHROPATHY - a degenerative disease affecting the facet
joint.
FACECTOMY - Excision of an articular facet of a vertebra.
FACET TROPISM - Asymmetrical orientation of the facets comparing
right to left side.
FORAMEN - A natural opening or passage in bone. An opening
allowing for the egress of spinal nerve roots from between
two vertebrae.
FORAMINOTOMY - Surgical opening or enlargement of the bony
opening traversed by a nerve root as it leaves the spinal
canal. A procedure carried out alone or in conjunction with
disc surgery.
FRACTURE - A disruption of the normal continuity of bone.
FRACTURE-DISLOCATION - Fracture of a bone that is also dislocated
from its normal position in a joint.
FUNCTIONAL SCOLIOSIS - Any scoliosis that is caused by leg
length or other functional disorder and not by a primary curvature
of the spine.
FUNCTIONAL STEREOTACTIC NEUROSURGERY - Surgery intended to
improve the function of the central nervous system. A stereotactic
head frame is used along with imaging techniques to map the
brain and localize the surgical target.
FUSIFORM ANEURYSM - A sausage-like enlargement of the vessel
FUSION - Union or healing of bone (see Arthrodesis).
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G
GRISEL SYNDROME - Subluxation of the atlantoaxial joint from
inflammatory ligamentous laxity due to infection. Can result
in neurologic complications.
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H
HALIFAX - Clamp across lamina of C-1 and C-2.
HARRINGTON ROD - An instrumentation and fusion using a straight,
stiff rod for distraction or compression; associated with
a posterior spinal fusion in the thoracic or thoracolumbar
spine for scoliosis or trauma.
HEMILAMINECTOMY - The excision of only one side of the lamina
(right or left) relative to other spinous process.
HEMIPLEGIA - Paralysis of one side of the body.
HERNIATED INTERVERTBRAL DISC (HID) - Extrusion of part of
the nucleus pulposus material through a defect in the annulus
fibrosus. Otpouching of a disc.
HERNIATED NUCLEUS PULPOSUS (HNP) - Extrusion of the central
portion of an intervertebral disc through the outer cartilaginous
ring. The material can compress the spinal cord or nerves
in or exiting the spinal canal.
HYDROXYAPATITE (HA) - The lattice-like structure of bone composed
of calcium and phosphorous crystals which deposits on collagen
to provide the rigid structure of bone.
HYPER - Excessive, above normal.
HYPERACUSIS - Abnormal acuteness of hearing or auditory sensation.
HYPERESTHESIA - Excessive sensibility to touch, pain or other
stimuli.
HYPEREXTENSION - Extension of a limb or part beyond the normal
limit.
HYPERFLEXION - Flexion of a limb or part beyond the normal
limit.
HYPERLORDOSIS - Increase in the normal anterior concavity
of the cervical or lumbar spine.
HYPERTENSION - High blood pressure.
HYPOPHYSECTOMY - Excision of the hypophysis cerebri.
HYPOPHYSIS CEREBRI - A gland of internal secretion lying on
the upper surface of the sphenoid (wedge shaped) bone.
HYPOTHALAMUS - A collection of specialized nerve cells at
the base of the brain which controls the anterior and posterior
pituitary secretions, and is involved in other basic regulatory
functions such as temperature control and attention.
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I
ILIAC BONE - A part of the pelvic bone that is above the hip
joint and from which autogenous bone grafts are frequently
obtained.
ILIAC CREST - The large, prominent portion of the pelvic bone
at the belt line of the body.
ILIOPSOAS MUSCLE - Large muscles starting at L-1 and becoming
wider as it picks up segments from the lower lumbar spine;
combines with the iliacus muscle before attaching to the lesser
trochanter of the hip.
INSTRUMENTATION - the use of instruments such as metal screws
or braces during a surgical procedure to support bone as it
heals.
INTERBODY - between the bodies of two adjacent vertebrae
INTERNAL FIXATION - The immobilization of bone fragments or
joints with implants in order to promote healing or fusion.
INTERSPINOUS LIGAMENT - Ligament between each of the spinous
processes.
INTERVERTEBRAL DISC - See Disc (Intervertebral).
INFORMED CONSENT - Consent of the patient who has received
sufficient information to have surgery, receive medication,
or participate in a clinical study.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD (IRB) - A committee designated
by an institution, such as a hospital, to review and approve
research projects; e.g., clinical studies in that institution.
ISOMETRIC - Of equal dimensions. In physiology, denoting the
condition when the ends of a contracting muscle are held fixed
so that contraction produces increased tension at a constant
overall length.
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K
KANEDA - An anteriorly placed fixation device for spinal deformities.
KINETIC - Relating to motion or movement.
KNODT DISTRACTION ROD - For distraction stabilization of thoracic
and lumbar spine.
KOSTUICK-HARRINGTON - Anteriorly placed device for spinal
deformity correction.
KYPHECTOMY - For kyphotic deformity in myelodysplasia; excision
of kyphotic portion of lumbar spine combined with spinal fixation.
KYPHOSCOLIOSIS - Lateral curvature of the spine associated
with forward inclination of the spine.
KYPHOSIS - An abnormal increase in the normal kyphotic curvature
of the thoracic spine. Round shoulder deformity, humpback,
dorsal curvature; may refer to any forward-bending area or
deformity of the spine.
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L
LABYRINTH - The internal ear, comprising the semi-circular
canals, vestibule and cochlea.
LAMINA - The flattened or arched part of the vertebral arch,
forming the roof of the spinal canal. The posterior part of
the spinal ring that covers the spinal cord or nerves.
LAMINECTOMY - Excision of one or more laminae of the vertebrae.
Removal of the lamina, the bony element covering the posterior
portion of the spinal canal.
LAMINOPLASTY - The lamina are hinged laterally opened like
a door, and secured in their new position with suture or bone
to enlarge the spinal canal.
LAMINOTOMY - An opening made in a lamina. Formation of a hole
in the lamina without disrupting the continuity of the entire
lamina to approach the intervertebral disc or neural structures.
LAPAROSCOPY a form of minimally invasive surgery using a type
of endoscope known as a laproscope. The technique allows surgeons
to perform procedures without making major incisions that
can lead to long recovery times.
LASER - Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
The device that produces a focused beam of light at a defined
wavelength that can vaporize tissue. In surgery, lasers can
be used to operate on small areas without damaging delicate
surrounding tissue.
LATERAL - Situated away from the midline of the body.
LATERAL MASS - The lateral expansion of the spinal ring in
the cervical spine, consisting of the facet joints and intervening
bone as well as a tunnel through which the vertebral artery
travels in the second through fifth cervical vertebra.
LEEDS - For scoliosis, segmental wiring of a contoured square-ended
Harrington rod.
LEPTOMENINGES - Two thin layers of fine tissue covering the
brain and spinal cord (The pia mater and arachnoid).
LEPTOMENINGITIS - Inflammation of the membranes covering the
brain and spinal cord.
LEPTOMENINGOPATHY - Disease of the arachnoid or pia matter
of the brain and spinal cord.
LEUKODYSTROPHY - Disturbance of the white matter of the brain.
LEUKOENCEPHALITIS - An inflammation of the white matter of
the brain.
LIGAMENT - A band of flexible, fibrous connective tissue that
is attached at the end of a bone near a joint. The main function
of a ligament is to attach bones to one another, to provide
stability of a joint, and to prevent or limit some joint motion.
LIGAMENTOUS - Relating to or of the form or structure of a
ligament.
LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM - A band of yellow elastic tissue that runs
between the laminae from the axis to the sacrum; it assists
in maintaining or regaining erect position and serves to close
in the spaces between the arches.
LIMBUS ANNULARE - A mass of bone situated at the anterospuerior
margin of a vertebra. Arises from failure of fusion of the
primary and secondary ossification centers.
LINEAR ACCELERATOR - Equipment that precisely delivers a concentrated
dose of radiation to a predetermined target using x-rays.
LIPOMA - A benign fatty tumor, usually composed of mature
fat cells.
LOCALIO - For sacral tumor; a method for partial excision
of the scarum.
LOCALIZATION - Limitation to a definite area. The reference
of a sensation to its point of origin.
LONG BEACH PEDICLE SCREW - Posterolateral fusion screw and
rod device.
LONGISSIMUS COLLI - Long muscle immediately anterior to the
cervical spine.
LONG TRACTS - The nerve fibers that connect the voluntary
muscle messages from the brain.
LORDOSCOLIOSIS - Lateral curvature of the spine associated
with backward bending of the spine.
LORDOSIS - Curvature of the spine with the convexity Not a
disease state, but the normal anterior concavity of the neck
or low back.
LOUGHHEED and WHITE - For drainage of lower abdominal abscess;
coccygectomy and drainage from space anterior to sacrum.
LUMBAGO - A non-medical term signifying pain in the lumbar
region. Archaic term meaning back pain.
LUMBAR - The lower part of the spine between the thoracic
and the sacrum. The lumbar spine consists of five vertebrae.
The five moveable spinal segments of the lower back and largestof
the spinal segments.
LUMBAR CURVE - Curve with apex between the first and the fourth
lumbar vertebrae.
LUMBAR DRAIN - A device (usually a long, thin, flexible tube)
inserted through the skin into the cerebrospinal fluid space
of the lower back; provides a method of draining cerebrospinal
fluid.
LUMBARIZATION - Partial or complete formation of a free-moving
first sacral segment so that it looks like a lumbar vertebra.
LUMBAR KYPHOSIS - Reverse of the normal curve of the back.
LUMBAR LORDOSIS - Angle made by lines drawn from the superior
surface of the first and fifth lumbar vertebra.
LUMBAR MICRODISCECTOMY - an operation on the lumbar spine
performed using a surgical microscope and microsurgical techniques.
LUMBOSACRAL CURVE - A lateral curve with its aspect at or
between the fifth lumbar vertebra.
LUMBOSACRAL JOINT ANGLE - Angle between the inferior of the
fifth lumbar vertebra and the top of the sacrum.
LUQUE INSTRUMENTATION -A posterior method of fixation.
LUQUE ISF - For posterolateral fusion fixation; a pedicle
screw and plate device.
LUXATION - Dislocation.
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