| 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) |
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| 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 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) |
| accessory portion of spinal accessory nerve | <anatomy, nerve> The roots of the accessory nerve which arise from the medulla; the nerve fibres of the cranial root join the intracranial portion of the vagus nerve and are distributed to the pharyngeal plexus, providing the motor innervation of the soft palate (except the tensor veli palati) and the pharynx. Synonym: pars vagalis nervi accessorii, radices craniales, accessory portion of spinal accessory nerve, cranial roots, vagal part of accessory nerve, vagal part. (05 Mar 2000) |
| acute spinal cord compression | <radiology> Signs and symptoms of cord compression show progression within 24 hours or less: pain, weakness, autonomic dysfunction, sensory loss, ataxia Diagnostic considerations: Primary or secondary malignancy of epidural space or vertebrae, Trauma, Inflammatory process, Osteoarthritis REF: MacNeil BJ, Abrams HL. Brigham and Women's Hospital Handbook of Diagnostic Imaging. Chapter 35. (12 Dec 1998) |