| lumbar plexus | A nervous plexus, formed by the ventral rami of the first four lumbar nerves; it lies in the substance of the psoas muscle, a lymphatic plexus formed of about twenty lymph nodes and connecting vessels situated along the lower portion of the aorta and the common iliac vessels. Synonym: plexus lumbalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| lumbar puncture | A diagnostic procedure where a sterile needle is introduced into the lower spine (L2) to collect cerebrospinal fluid for diagnostic purposes. Chemical analysis, cellular analysis and CSF pressure can all be measured with this procedure. This test can aid in the diagnosis of meningitis, subarachnoid haemorrhage and multiple sclerosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| lumbar puncture needle | A needle, provided with a stylet, for entering the spinal canal or cisterna magna, with a bore of at least 1 mm and 40 mm or more in length. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar quadrate muscle | <anatomy, muscle> Origin, iliac crest, iliolumbar ligament, and transverse processes of lower lumbar vertebrae; insertion, twelfth rib and transverse processes of upper lumbar vertebrae; action, abducts trunk; nerve supply, ventral primary rami of upper lumbar spinal nerves. Synonym: musculus quadratus lumborum, lumbar quadrate muscle, quadrate muscle of loins. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar radiculopathy | <neurology, orthopaedics> A herniated intervertebral disk (nucleus pulposus) is one which has become displaced (prolapsed) from its normal position in between the vertebral bodies of the spine. Herniated disks often impinge on nearby nerve structures resulting in pain and neurologic symptoms. A clinical situation where the radicular nerve (nerve root) is compressed by the prolapsed disk is referred to as a radiculopathy. This problem tends to occur most commonly in the cervical and lumbar spine. Origin: Gr. Pathos = disease (27 Sep 1997) |
| lumbar region | The region of the back lateral to the vertebral region and between the rib cage and the pelvis. Synonym: regio lumbalis. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar rheumatism | <symptom> Pain in the lumbar region. Origin: L. Lumbus = loin (18 Nov 1997) |
| lumbar rib | An occasional rib articulating with the transverse process of the first lumbar vertebra. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar rotator muscles | The rotator muscles of the lumbar vertebrae. Synonym: musculi rotatores lumborum, lumbar rotator muscles. (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) |
| lumbar splanchnic nerves | Branches from the lumbar sympathetic trunks that pass anteriorly to convey presynaptic sympathetic fibres to, and visceral afferents from, the coeliac, intermesenteric, aortic, and superior hypogastric plexuses. Synonym: nervi splanchnici lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar triangle | An area in the posterior abdominal wall bounded by the edges of the latissimus dorsi and external oblique muscles and the iliac crest; herniations occasionally occur here. Synonym: trigonum lumbale, Petit's lumbar triangle. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar trunks | Two lymphatic ducts conveying lymph from the lower limbs, pelvic viscera and walls, large intestine, kidneys, and suprarenal glands; they discharge into the cisterna chyli. Synonym: trunci lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar veins | Five in number, these veins accompany the lumbar arteries, drain the posterior body wall and the lumbar vertebral venous plexuses, and terminate anteriorly as follows: the first and second in the ascending lumbar vein, the third and fourth in the inferior vena cava, and the fifth in the iliolumbar vein; all communicate via the ascending lumbar veins. Synonym: venae lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |
| lumbar vertebrae | The vertebrae, usually five in number, located in the lumbar region of the back. Synonym: vertebrae lumbales. (05 Mar 2000) |