| spinal cord tumour | A spinal cord tumour is a aggregate if cells that form a mass that can compress the spinal cord. Spinal cord tumours may arise from local structures (for example meninges) or from a cancer from a distant site (i.e. Metastasis). Regardless of the aetiology, all spinal cord tumours cause symptoms from compression on the spinal cord, surrounding nerve roots or blood vessels that supply the cord. Symptoms are variable with the extent and the level of the spinal cord tumour. Common symptoms include back pain that may radiate, numbness and tingling to the lower extremities, muscle weakness in the legs, difficulty walking and loss of bowel and bladder control (incontinence). (27 Sep 1997) |
|---|---|
| subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord | A subacute or chronic disorder of the spinal cord, such as that occurring in certain patients with vitamin B12 deficiency, characterised by a slight to moderate degree of gliosis in association with spongiform degeneration of the posterior and lateral columns. Synonym: combined sclerosis, combined system disease, funicular myelitis, Putnam-Dana syndrome, vitamin B12 neuropathy. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dentate ligament of spinal cord | Rarely used variation on the spelling of denticulate ligament. (05 Mar 2000) |
| dura mater of spinal cord | Single-layered strong membrane, comparable to and continuous with (at foramen magnum) the meningeal layer of the intracranial dura mater of the brain. It does not (in contrast to the dura mater of brain) adhere to the enveloping bony structures (vertebrae) or their periosteum, being separated from the latter by a considerable space, the vertebral epidural space-a true space containing the internal vertebral venous plexus embedded in a matrix of epidural fat. Synonym: dura mater spinalis, endorrhachis, theca vertebralis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| thoracic part of spinal cord | The part of the spinal cord which consists of the twelve thoracic segments of the spinal cord from which the twelve pairs of thoracic nerves originate. Synonym: pars thoracica medullae spinalis, segmenta medullae spinalis thoracica. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lateral funiculus of spinal cord | The lateral white column of the spinal cord between the lines of exit and entrance of the anterior and posterior nerve roots. Synonym: funiculus lateralis, anterolateral column of spinal cord, lateral funiculus of spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar enlargement of spinal cord | A spindle-shaped swelling of the spinal cord beginning at the level of the tenth thoracic vertebra and tapering into the medullary cone, with maximum thickness opposite the last thoracic vertebra, consequential to the innervation of the lower limb. Synonym: intumescentia lumbalis, lumbar enlargement of spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar part of spinal cord | Portion of spinal cord which consists of the five lumbar segments (L1-L5) and from which five pairs of lumbar spinal nerves originate; in the adult it is located in the T10-L1 portion of the vertebral canal, and is enlarged relative to other parts of the cord due to its involvement in innervation of the lower limb. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar segments of spinal cord | The five lumbar segments of the spinal cord which give rise to the five pairs of lumbar spinal nerves and constitute the lumbar part of the spinal cord. Synonym: segmenta medullae spinalis lumbaria. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior column | The pronounced, dorsolaterally oriented ridge of gray matter in each lateral half of the spinal cord, corresponding to the posterior or dorsal horn appearing in transverse sections of the cord. Synonym: columna posterior, dorsal column of spinal cord, posterior column of spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior column cordotomy | Division of the posterior column of the spinal cord. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior cord of brachial plexus | In the brachial plexus, the bundle of nerve fibres formed by the posterior divisions of the upper, middle and lower trunks which lies posterior to the axillary artery; it gives rise to the upper and lower subscapular and thoracodorsal nerves, terminates by dividing into the axillary, and radial nerves. Synonym: fasciculus posterior plexus brachialis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior branch of spinal nerves | See: dorsal primary ramus of spinal nerve. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior spinal artery | <anatomy, artery> Origin, vertebral; distribution, medulla, spinal cord, and pia mater; anastomoses, spinal branches of intercostal arteries. Synonym: arteria spinalis posterior. (05 Mar 2000) |
| posterior spinal sclerosis | See Tabes dorsalis. (12 Dec 1998) |