Back Pain Definitions
||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.
||Relating to the 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.
||A large group of muscles in the
front of the abdomen that assists in the regular breathing
movement and supports the muscles of the spine while lifting
and keeping abdominal organs such as the intestines in
place. Abdominal muscles play a key role in exercises such
as "sit-ups." They are informally called the "abs".
||A pain reliever and fever reducer.
Brand name: Tylenol. The exact mechanism of action of
acetaminophen is not known. Acetaminophen relieves pain by
elevating the pain threshold (that is, by requiring a
greater amount of pain to develop before it is felt by a
person). Acetaminophen reduces fever through its action on
the heat-regulating center (the "thermostat") of the brain.
Generic is available.
||The practice of inserting needles
into the body to reduce pain or induce anesthesia. More
broadly, acupuncture is a family of procedures involving the
stimulation of anatomical locations on or in the skin by a
variety of techniques. There are a number of different
approaches to diagnosis and treatment in American
acupuncture that incorporate medical traditions from China,
Japan, Korea, and other countries. The most thoroughly
studied mechanism of stimulation of acupuncture points
employs penetration of the skin by thin, solid, metallic
needles, which are manipulated manually or by electrical
||Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease.
Acute often also connotes an illness that is of short
duration, rapidly progressive, and in need of urgent care.
||Pain that comes on quickly, can be
severe, but lasts a relatively short time. As opposed to
||The condition of having less than the
normal number of red blood cells or less than the normal
quantity of hemoglobin in the blood. The oxygen-carrying
capacity of the blood is, therefore, decreased.
||A substance that causes lack of
feeling or awareness. A local anesthetic causes loss of
feeling in a part of the body. A general anesthetic puts the
person to sleep.
||A type of arthritis that
causes chronic inflammation of the spine and the sacroiliac
joints. Chronic inflammation in these areas causes pain and
stiffness in and around the spine. Over time, chronic spinal
inflammation (spondylitis) can lead to a complete cementing
together (fusion) of the vertebrae, a process called
ankylosis. Ankylosis causes total loss of mobility of the
||Inflammation of the appendix, the
small worm-like projection from the first part of the colon.
Appendicitis usually involves infection of the appendix by
bacteria that invade it and infect the wall of the appendix.
Appendicitis can progress to produce an abscess (a pocket of
pus) and even peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the
abdomen and pelvis).
Asthma: A common disorder in which chronic
inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them
swell, narrowing the airways. Asthma involves only the
bronchial tubes and does not affect the air sacs (alveoli)
or the lung tissue (the parenchyma of the lung) itself.
Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back.
There are many causes of back pain.
Bladder: Any pouch or other flexible enclosure
that can hold liquids or gases but usually refers to the
hollow organ in the lower abdomen that stores urine -- the
urinary bladder. The kidneys filter waste from the blood and
produce urine, which enters the bladder through two tubes
called ureters. Urine leaves the bladder through another
tube, the urethra. In women, the urethra is a short tube
that opens just in front of the vagina. In men, it is
longer, passing through the prostate gland and then the
penis. Infection of the bladder is called cystitis.
Blood clots: Blood that has been converted from a
liquid to a solid state. Also called a thrombus.
Blood count: The calculated number of white or red
blood cells (WBCs or RBCs) in a cubic millimeter of blood.
Bowel: Another name for the intestine. The small
bowel and the large bowel are the small intestine and large
C-reactive protein: A plasma protein that rises in
the blood with the inflammation from certain conditions.
Cancer: An abnormal growth of cells which tend to
proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to
Cauda equina: A bundle of spinal nerve roots that
arise from the bottom end of the spinal cord. The cauda
equina comprises the roots of all the spinal nerve roots
below the level of the first lumbar (L1) vertebra, namely
the sacral and coccygeal nerves. So named because it
resembles the tail (Latin, cauda) of a horse (Latin, equus).
Cauda equina syndrome: Impairment of the nerves in
the cauda equina, the bundle of spinal nerve roots that
arise from the lower end of the spinal cord. The syndrome is
characterized by dull pain in the lower back and upper
buttocks and lack of feeling (analgesia) in the buttocks,
genitalia and thigh, together with disturbances of bowel and
CBC: A commonly used abbreviation in medicine that
stands for complete blood count, a set values of the
cellular (formed elements) of blood. These measurements are
generally determined by specially designed machines that
analyze the different components of blood in less than a
Chest: The area of the body located between the
neck and the abdomen. The chest contains the lungs, the
heart and part of the aorta. The walls of the chest are
supported by the dorsal vertebrae, the ribs, and the
Chiropractic: A system of diagnosis and treatment
based on the concept that the nervous system coordinates all
of the body's functions, and that disease results from a
lack of normal nerve function. Chiropractic employs
manipulation and adjustment of body structures, such as the
spinal column, so that pressure on nerves coming from the
spinal cord due to displacement (subluxation) of a vertebral
body may be relieved. Practitioners believe that
misalignment and nerve pressure can cause problems not only
in the local area, but also at some distance from it.
Chiropractic treatment appears to be effective for muscle
spasms of the back and neck, tension headaches, and some
sorts of leg pain. It may or may not be useful for other
Chronic: This important term in medicine comes
from the Greek chronos, time and means lasting a long time.
Chronic pain: Pain (an unpleasant sense of
discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period
of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in
response to a specific injury and is usually treatable,
chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to
Common cold: A viral upper respiratory tract
infection. This contagious illness can be caused by many
different types of viruses, and the body can never build up
resistance to all of them. For this reason, colds are a
frequent and recurring problem. In fact kindergarten
children average 12 colds per year, while adolescents and
adults have around seven colds per year.
Complete blood count: A set values of the cellular
(formed elements) of blood. These measurements are generally
determined by specially designed machines that analyze the
different components of blood in less than a minute.
Compression: 1. The act of pressing
together. As in a compression fracture, nerve compression,
or spinal cord compression.
2. To shorten in time. In embryology, there may be
compression of development with some stages even omitted.
Constipation: Infrequent (and frequently
incomplete) bowel movements. The opposite of diarrhea,
constipation is commonly caused by irritable bowel syndrome,
diverticulosis, and medications (constipation can
paradoxically be caused by overuse of laxatives). Colon
cancer can narrow the colon and thereby cause constipation.
The large bowel (colon) can be visualized by barium enema
x-rays, sigmoidoscopy, and colonoscopy. Barring a condition
such as cancer, high-fiber diets can frequently relieve the
COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Any
disorder that persistently obstructs bronchial airflow. COPD
mainly involves two related diseases -- chronic bronchitis
and emphysema. Both cause chronic obstruction of air flowing
through the airways and in and out of the lungs. The
obstruction is generally permanent and progresses (becomes
worse) over time.
Cox-2: Cyclooxygenase-2, a protein acts as an
enzyme and specifically catalyzes (speeds) the production of
certain chemical messengers called prostaglandins. Some of
these messengers are responsible for promoting inflammation.
When Cox-2 activity is blocked, inflammation is reduced.
Unlike cox-1, cox-2 is active only at the site of
inflammation, not in the stomach.
CT scan: Computerized tomography scan. Pictures of
structures within the body created by a computer that takes
the data from multiple X-ray images and turns them into
pictures on a screen. CT stands for computerized tomography.
Depression: An illness that involves the body,
mood, and thoughts, that affects the way a person eats and
sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one
thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same
as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal
weakness or a condition that can be wished away. People with
a depressive disease cannot merely "pull themselves
together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can
last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment,
however, can help most people with depression.
Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the
identification of an illness. 2 A conclusion or
decision reached by diagnosis. The diagnosis is rabies. 3
The identification of any problem. The diagnosis was a
Disc: Shortened terminology for an intervertebral
disc, a disk-shaped piece of specialized tissue that
separates the bones of the spinal column.
Discharge: 1.The flow of fluid from part of
the body, such as from the nose or vagina.
2. The passing of an action potential, such as
through a nerve or muscle
3. The release of a patient from a course of care.
The doctor may then dictate a discharge summary.
Dysfunction: Difficult function or abnormal
Electromyogram: A test used to record the
electrical activity of muscles. When muscles are active,
they produce an electrical current that is usually
proportional to the level of muscle activity. An
electromyogram (EMG) is also called a myogram.
Emergency department: The department of a hospital
responsible for the provision of medical and surgical care
to patients arriving at the hospital in need of immediate
care. Emergency department personnel may also respond to
certain situations within the hospital such cardiac arrests.
Epidural: Outside the dura, the outermost,
toughest, and most fibrous of the three membranes (meninges)
covering the brain and the spinal cord. An epidural hematoma
is a collection of blood beneath the skull but outside the
Essential: 1. Something that cannot be done
2. Required in the diet, because the body cannot make
it. As in an essential amino acid or an essential fatty
3. Idiopathic. As in essential hypertension.
"Essential" is a hallowed term meaning "We don't know the
Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened
capacity for work and reduced efficiency of accomplishment,
usually accompanied by a feeling of weariness and tiredness.
Fatigue can be acute and come on suddenly or chronic and
Fibromyalgia: A syndrome characterized by chronic
pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscles, tendons, and
joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia does
not cause body damage or deformity. However, undue fatigue
plagues the large majority of patients with fibromyalgia and
sleep disorders are common in fibromyalgia.
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.
Gastric: Having to do with the stomach.
Gastrointestinal: Adjective referring collectively
to the stomach and small and large intestines.
Gastrointestinal tract: The tube that extends from
the mouth to the anus in which the movement of muscles and
release of hormones and enzymes digest food. The
gastrointestinal tract starts with the mouth and proceeds to
the esophagus, stomach, duodenum, small intestine, large
intestine (colon), rectum and, finally, the anus. Also
called the alimentary canal, digestive tract and, perhaps
most often in conversation, the GI tract.
Headache: A pain in the head with the pain being
above the eyes or the ears, behind the head (occipital), or
in the back of the upper neck. Headache, like chest pain or
back ache, has many causes.
Heart: The muscle that pumps blood received from
veins into arteries throughout the body. It is positioned in
the chest behind the sternum (breastbone; in front of the
trachea, esophagus, and aorta; and above the diaphragm
muscle that separates the chest and abdominal cavities. The
normal heart is about the size of a closed fist, and weighs
about 10.5 ounces. It is cone-shaped, with the point of the
cone pointing down to the left. Two-thirds of the heart lies
in the left side of the chest with the balance in the right
Heart attack: The death of heart muscle due to the
loss of blood supply. The loss of blood supply is usually
caused by a complete blockage of a coronary artery, one of
the arteries that supplies blood to the heart muscle. Death
of the heart muscle, in turn, causes chest pain and
electrical instability of the heart muscle tissue.
Herniated disc: Rupturing of the tissue that
separates the vertebral bones of the spinal column.
Herniation: Abnormal protrusion of tissue through
an opening. For example, a intervertebral disk (one situated
between the vertebral bodies) can protrude and impinge on a
Herpes: A family of viruses. Herpes also refers to
infection with one of the human herpesviruses, especially
herpes simplex types 1 and 2.
Herpes zoster: Also called shingles, zona, and
zoster. The culprit is the varicella-zoster virus. Primary
infection with this virus causes chickenpox (varicella). At
this time the virus infects nerves (namely, the dorsal root
ganglia) where it remains latent (lies low) for years. It
can then be reactivated to cause shingles with blisters over
the distribution of the affected nerve accompanied by often
intense pain and itching.
Hip fracture: Broken bone in the hip, a key health
problem among the elderly, usually due to a fall or other
kind of trauma involving direct impact to the hip bone which
has been weakened by osteoporosis. The part of the hip most
often broken is the greater trochanter (the knobby end) of
the femur (the thigh bone).
Ibuprofen: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) commonly used to treat pain, swelling, and fever.
Common brand names for Ibuprofen include Advil, Motrin, and
Incidence: The frequency with which something,
such as a disease, appears in a particular population or
area. In disease epidemiology, the incidence is the number
of newly diagnosed cases during a specific time period. The
incidence is distinct from the prevalence which refers to
the number of cases alive on a certain date.
Incontinence: Inability to control excretions.
Urinary incontinence is inability to keep urine in the
bladder. Fecal incontinence is inability to retain feces in
Indicate: In medicine, to make a treatment or
procedure advisable because of a particular condition or
circumstance. For example, certain medications are indicated
for the treatment of hypertension during pregnancy while
others are contraindicated.
Indication: 1. In medicine, a condition
which makes a particular treatment or procedure advisable.
CML (chronic myeloid leukemia) is an indication for the use
of Gleevec (imatinib mesylate). 2. A sign or a
circumstance which points to or shows the cause, pathology,
treatment, or outcome of an attack of disease. The presence
of the Philadelphia chromosome in peripheral blood cells is
an indication of a relapse in CML.
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.
Inflammation: A basic way in which the body reacts
to infection, irritation or other injury, the key feature
being redness, warmth, swelling and pain. Inflammation is
now recognized as a type of nonspecific immune response.
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.
Joint: A joint is the area where two bones are
attached for the purpose of motion of body parts. A joint is
usually formed of fibrous connective tissue and cartilage.
An articulation or an arthrosis is the same as a joint.
Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the
right and left side of the abdomen which clear "poisons"
from the blood, regulate acid concentration and maintain
water balance in the body by excreting urine. The kidneys
are part of the urinary tract. The urine then passes through
connecting tubes called "ureters" into the bladder. The
bladder stores the urine until it is released during
Knee: The knee is a joint which has three parts.
The thigh bone (the femur) meets the large shin bone (the
tibia) to form the main knee joint. This joint has an inner
(medial) and an outer (lateral) compartment. The kneecap
(the patella) joins the femur to form a third joint, called
the patellofemoral joint. The patella protects the front of
the knee joint.
Leg: In popular usage, the leg extends from the
top of the thigh down to the foot. However, in medical
terminology, the leg refers to the portion of the lower
extremity from the knee to the ankle.
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.
Magnetic resonance imaging: A special radiology
technique designed to image internal structures of the body
using magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce the
images of body structures. In magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI), the scanner is a tube surrounded by a giant circular
magnet. The patient is placed on a moveable bed that is
inserted into the magnet. The magnet creates a strong
magnetic field that aligns the protons of hydrogen atoms,
which are then exposed to a beam of radio waves. This spins
the various protons of the body, and they produce a faint
signal that is detected by the receiver portion of the MRI
scanner. A computer processes the receiver information, and
an image is produced. The image and resolution is quite
detailed and can detect tiny changes of structures within
the body, particularly in the soft tissue, brain and spinal
cord, abdomen and joints.
Malignant: 1. Tending to be severe and
become progressively worse, as in malignant hypertension.
2. In regard to a tumor, having the properties of a
malignancy that can invade and destroy nearby tissue and
that may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.
Medical history: 1. In clinical medicine,
the patient's past and present which may contain clues
bearing on their health past, present, and future. The
medical history, being an account of all medical events and
problems a person has experienced, including psychiatric
illness, is especially helpful when a differential diagnosis
2. The history of medicine.
Motor: In medicine, having to do with the movement
of a part of the body. Something that produces motion or
refers to motion. For example, a motor neuron is a nerve
cell that conveys an impulse to a muscle causing it to
contract. The term "motor" today is also applied to a nerve
that signals a gland to secrete. Motor is as opposed to
MRI: Abbreviation for magnetic resonance
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
Myelogram: An x-ray of the spinal cord and the
bones of the spine. During a myelogram, a contrast material
that is injected into the spinal canal is used to visualize
the structures of the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Naproxen: A non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug
(NSAID) used for the management of mild to moderate pain,
fever, and inflammation. Naproxen blocks the enzyme
cyclooxygenase that makes prostaglandins, resulting in lower
concentrations of prostaglandins. As a consequence,
inflammation, pain and fever are reduced. Brand names for
naproxen include Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, and Aleve.
Nausea: Nausea, is the urge to vomit. It can be
brought by many causes including, systemic illnesses, such
as influenza, medications, pain, and inner ear disease. When
nausea and/or vomiting are persistent, or when they are
accompanied by other severe symptoms such as abdominal pain,
jaundice, fever, or bleeding, a physician should be
Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses chemical and
electrical signals to transmit sensory and motor information
from one body part to another.
NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. NSAIDs
are commonly prescribed for the inflammation of arthritis
and other body tissues, such as in tendinitis and bursitis.
Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, indomethacin (Indocin),
ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Naprosyn), piroxicam (Feldene),
and nabumetone (Relafen).
Onset: In medicine, the first appearance of the
signs or symptoms of an illness as, for example, the onset
of rheumatoid arthritis. There is always an onset to a
disease but never to the return to good health. The default
setting is good health.
Opioid: 1. A synthetic narcotic that resembles the
naturally occurring opiates. 2. Any substance that binds to
or otherwise affects the opiate receptors on the surface of
Osteomyelitis: Inflammation of the bone due to
infection, for example by the bacteria salmonella or
staphylococcus. Osteomyelitis is sometimes a complication of
surgery or injury, although infection can also reach bone
tissue through the bloodstream. Both the bone and the bone
marrow may be infected. Symptoms include deep pain and
muscle spasms in the area of inflammation, and fever.
Treatment is by bed rest, antibiotics (usually injected
locally), and sometimes surgery to remove dead bone tissue.
Osteoporosis: Thinning of the bones with reduction
in bone mass due to depletion of calcium and bone protein.
Osteoporosis predisposes a person to fractures, which are
often slow to heal and heal poorly. It is more common in
older adults, particularly post-menopausal women; in
patients on steroids; and in those who take steroidal drugs.
Unchecked osteoporosis can lead to changes in posture,
physical abnormality (particularly the form of hunched back
known colloquially as "dowager's hump"), and decreased
Ovarian: Of or pertaining to the ovary.
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
Pelvic: Having to do with the pelvis, the lower
part of the abdomen, located between the hip bones.
Pelvis: The lower part of the abdomen located
between the hip bones.
Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as
opposed to centrally located.
Pharmacy: A location where prescription drugs are
sold. A pharmacy is, by law, constantly supervised by a
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.
Placebo: A "sugar pill" or any dummy medication or
Plantar: Having to do with the sole of the foot.
Posterior: The back or behind, as opposed to the
Prescription: A physician's order for the
preparation and administration of a drug or device for a
patient. A prescription has several parts. They include the
superscription or heading with the symbol "R" or "Rx", which
stands for the word recipe (meaning, in Latin, to take); the
inscription, which contains the names and quantities of the
ingredients; the subscription or directions for compounding
the drug; and the signature which is often preceded by the
sign "s" standing for signa (Latin for mark), giving the
directions to be marked on the container.
Prognosis: 1. The expected course of a
2. The patient's chance of recovery.
The prognosis predicts the outcome of a disease and
therefore the future for the patient. His prognosis is grim,
for example, while hers is good.
Progressive: Increasing in scope or severity.
Advancing. Going forward. In medicine, a disease that is
progressive is going from bad to worse.
Protein: A large molecule composed of one or more
chains of amino acids in a specific order determined by the
base sequence of nucleotides in the DNA coding for the
Radiate: To spread out from a central area. For
example, sciatic pain may radiate outward from the lower
Range of motion: The range through which a joint
can be moved, usually its range of flexion and extension.
Due to an injury, the knee may for example lack 10 degrees
of full extension.
Rectum: The last 6 to 8 inches of the large
intestine. The rectum stores solid waste until it leaves the
body through the anus. The word rectum comes from the Latin
rectus meaning straight (which the human rectum is not).
Referred pain: Pain felt at a site other than
where the cause is situated. An example is the pain from the
pancreas, which is felt in the back. Pain in internal organs
is often referred to sites distant from them.
Reflex: A reaction that is involuntary. The
corneal reflex is the blink that occurs with irritation of
the eye. The nasal reflex is a sneeze.
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.
Rupture: A break or tear in any organ (such as the
spleen) or soft tissue (such as the achilles tendon).
Rupture of the appendix is more likely among uninsured and
minority children when they develop appendicitis.
Sacral: Referring to the sacrum, the 5 vertebral
bones situated between the lumbar vertebrae and the coccyx
(the lowest segment of the vertebral column). The 5 sacral
vertebrae are represented by the symbols S1 through S5.
There are correspondingly 5 sacral nerves. The sacral
vertebrae are normally fused to form the sacrum.
Scan: As a noun, the data or image obtained from
the examination of organs or regions of the body by
gathering information with a sensing device.
Sciatic nerve: The largest nerve in the body, the
sciatic nerve begins from nerve roots in the lumbar part of
the spinal cord (in the low back) and extends through the
buttock area to send nerve endings down to the legs.
Sciatica: Pain resulting from irritation of the
sciatic nerve, typically felt from the low back to behind
the thigh and radiating down below the knee. While sciatica
can result from a herniated disc directly pressing on the
nerve, any cause of irritation or inflammation of this nerve
can reproduce the painful symptoms of sciatica. Diagnosis is
by observation of symptoms, physical and nerve testing, and
sometimes by X-ray or MRI if a herniated disk is suspected.
Sedimentation rate: A blood test that detects and
monitors inflammation in the body. It measures the rate at
which red blood cells (RBCs) in a test tube separate from
blood serum over time, becoming sediment in the bottom of
the test tube. The sedimentation rate increases with more
inflammation. Also called the erythrocyte sedimentation
rate. Abbreviated as sed rate or ESR.
Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation
refers to the registration of an incoming (afferent) nerve
impulse in that part of the brain called the sensorium,
which is capable of such perception. Therefore, the
awareness of a stimulus as a result of its perception by
sensory receptors. (Sensory is here synonymous with
Sensory: Relating to sensation, to the perception
of a stimulus and the voyage made by incoming (afferent)
nerve impulses from the sense organs to the nerve centers.
Shingles: An acute infection caused by the herpes
zoster virus, the same virus as causes chickenpox. Shingles
is most common after the age of 50 and the risk rises with
advancing age. Shingles occurs because of exposure to
chickenpox or reactivation of the herpes zoster virus. The
virus remains latent (dormant) in nerve roots for many years
Skeletal: Pertaining to the skeleton, the bones of
the body which collectively provide the framework for the
Spasm: A brief, automatic jerking movement. A
muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the muscle clenching
tightly. A spasm of the coronary artery can cause angina.
Spasms in various types of tissue may be caused by stress,
medication, over-exercise, or other factors.
Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that
is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral
canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. Thirty-one
pairs of spinal nerves originate in the spinal cord: 8
cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral, and 1 coccygeal.
The spinal cord and the brain constitute the central nervous
system (CNS). The spinal cord consists of nerve fibers that
transmit impulses to and from the brain. Like the brain, the
spinal cord is covered by three connective-tissue envelopes
called the meninges. The space between the outer and middle
envelopes is filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a clear
colorless fluid that cushions the spinal cord against
jarring shock. Also known simply as the cord.
Spinal stenosis: Narrowing of the spaces in the
spine, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or spinal
cord by bony spurs or soft tissues, such as disks, in the
spinal canal. This occurs most often in the lumbar spine (in
the low back) but also occurs in the cervical spine (in the
neck) and less often in the thoracic spine (in the upper
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). See also
vertebral column. 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.
Spondylitis: Inflammation of one or more of the
vertebrae of the spine. Diffuse inflammation of the spine is
seen in the disease ankylosing spondylitis. Localized
spondylitis is seen with infections of a certain area of the
spine, such as in Pott's disease.
Spondylosis: Degeneration of the disc spaces
between the vertebrae. This finding in the spine is commonly
associated with osteoarthritis.
Stenosis: A narrowing, as in:
- aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve of
- pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve
of the heart),
- pyloric stenosis (narrowing of the outlet of the
- spinal stenosis (narrowing of the vertebral canal).
Steroid: A general class of chemical substances
that are structurally related to one another and share the
same chemical skeleton (a tetracyclic
Stomach: The sac-shaped digestive organ that is
located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upper part
of the stomach connects to the esophagus, and the lower part
leads into the small intestine.
Stool: The solid matter discharged in a bowel
Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle
resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A hereditary tendency
that originated from a common ancestor. 3. To exert maximum
effort. 4. To filter.
Stress: Forces from the outside world impinging on
the individual. Stress is a normal part of life that can
help us learn and grow. Conversely, stress can cause us
Stroke: The sudden death of some brain cells due
to a lack of oxygen when the blood flow to the brain is
impaired by blockage or rupture of an artery to the brain. A
stroke is also called a cerebrovascular accident or, for
short, a CVA.
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.
Symptom: Any subjective evidence of disease.
Anxiety, lower back pain, and fatigue are all symptoms. They
are sensations only the patient can perceive. In contrast, a
sign is objective evidence of disease. A bloody nose is a
sign. It is evident to the patient, doctor, nurse and other
Syndrome: A set of signs and symptoms that tend to
occur together and which reflect the presence of a
particular disease or an increased chance of developing a
Tension: 1) The pressure within a vessel, such as
blood pressure: the pressure within the blood vessels. For
example, elevated blood pressure is referred to as
hypertension. 2) Stress, especially stress that is
translated into clenched scalp muscles and bottled-up
emotions or anxiety. This is the type of tension blamed for
Therapy: The treatment of disease.
Thoracic: Pertaining to the chest.
Topical: Pertaining to a particular surface area.
A topical agent is applied to a certain area of the skin and
is intended to affect only the area to which it is applied.
Whether its effects are indeed limited to that area depends
upon whether the agent stays where it is put or is absorbed
into the blood stream.
Trauma: Any injury, whether physically or
emotionally inflicted. "Trauma" has both a medical and a
psychiatric definition. Medically, "trauma" refers to a
serious or critical bodily injury, wound, or shock. This
definition is often associated with trauma medicine
practiced in emergency rooms and represents a popular view
of the term. In psychiatry, "trauma" has assumed a different
meaning and refers to an experience that is emotionally
painful, distressful, or shocking, which often results in
lasting mental and physical effects.
Trigger: Something that either sets off a disease
in people who are genetically predisposed to developing the
disease, or that causes a certain symptom to occur in a
person who has a disease. For example, sunlight can trigger
rashes in people with lupus.
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).
Urinary: Having to do with the kidneys, ureters,
and bladder. The urinary system represents the functional
and anatomic aspects of the kidneys, ureters, and bladder.
Virus: A microorganism smaller than a bacteria,
which cannot grow or reproduce apart from a living cell. A
virus invades living cells and uses their chemical machinery
to keep itself alive and to replicate itself. It may
reproduce with fidelity or with errors (mutations)-this
ability to mutate is responsible for the ability of some
viruses to change slightly in each infected person, making
treatment more difficult.
Weight loss: Weight loss is a decrease in body
weight resulting from either voluntary (diet,
exercise) or involuntary (illness) circumstances. Most
instances of weight loss arise due to the loss of body fat,
but in cases of extreme or severe weight loss, protein and
other substances in the body can also be depleted. Examples
of involuntary weight loss include the weight loss
associated with cancer, malabsorption (such as from chronic
diarrheal illnesses ), and chronic inflammation (such as
with rheumatoid arthritis).
X-ray: 1. High-energy radiation with waves
shorter than those of visible light. X-rays possess the
properties of penetrating most substances (to varying
extents), of acting on a photographic film or plate
(permitting radiography), and of causing a fluorescent
screen to give off light (permitting fluoroscopy). In low
doses X-rays are used for making images that help to
diagnose disease, and in high doses to treat cancer.
Formerly called a Roentgen ray. 2. An image obtained
by means of X-rays