Question 1

Adjacent

Accepted Answer

neighboring

Question 2

Annulus Fibrosus

Accepted Answer

the outer, fibrous, rubberband-like structure of the intervertebral disc.

Question 3

Anomaly

Accepted Answer

an abnormality or irregularity in formation

Question 4

Accepted Answer

in front of

Question 5

Arthritis

Accepted Answer

inflammation of joints and nerves

Question 6

Articulate

Accepted Answer

motion

Question 7

Articulations

Accepted Answer

joints, as in the joining of bones or movable segments

Question 8

Bulging Disc

Accepted Answer

same as herniated disc, slipped disc, ruptured disc - a condition in which the inner part of the intervertebral disc called the nucleus pulposus pushes through the outer containing fibers of the disc called the annulus fibrosus. This bulging of the inner nucleus into the annulus fibrosus can take two forms. If the nucleus is held within the annulus fibrosus, the process is termed a contained disc, and sometimes referred to as a disc protrusion or herniation. If the annulus fibrosus tears and allows the inner nucleus pulposus to escape through the annulus fibrosus it is called a non-contained disc herniation and often called a ruptured or fragmented disc.

Question 9

Bursitis

Accepted Answer

inflammation of one or more bursae (small sacs) of synovial fluid in the body

Question 10

Cartilage

Accepted Answer

Relating to the spinal presence of cartilage, cartilage is the flexible,
 slippery, connective tissue that covers the ends of bones in a joint. 
Cartilage is also found in other parts of the body like the knee and 
ear, but in the spine healthy cartilage allows bones to glide over one 
another. Cartilage also absorbs energy from the shock of physical 
movement. The intervertebral disc is cartilage as well made mostly of 
water, 65% to 80% water content

Question 11

Cauda equina

Accepted Answer

the lowest set of nerves off the spinal cord

Question 12

Cauda equina syndrome

Accepted Answer

numbness of the perineum (genital area) or loss of bowel and bladder control. Because paralysis is eminent, surgery must be considered.

Question 13

Cervical

Accepted Answer

the topmost segment of the spinal column upon which the head sits that allows flexion, extension, rotation and other movements of the head

Question 14

Chiropractic

Accepted Answer

hands-on healing profession without drugs and invasive procedures

Question 15

Chronic Pain

Accepted Answer

pain that extends beyond the expected time for relief summarizes "chronic", but it is defined differently in the medical literature from 6 weeks or 12 weeks or 3 months. It is commonly held to be pain that lasts longer than 90 days (3 months).

Question 16

Congenital

Accepted Answer

present at birth

Question 17

Congenital Anomalies

Accepted Answer

conditions whereby spinal structures did not fully develop or developed 
abnormally. You will be examined thoroughly. (examples: short pedicles, 
transitional segment, spondylolisthesis, tropism, incomplete vertebral 
development)

Question 18

Cox Technic

Accepted Answer

a well researched, pain relieving, gentle, non-force chiropractic spinal manipulation and decompression adjustment to relieve pain, drop intradiscal pressures, open the spinal canal space, increase the disc's height and realign spinal segments. Read more about the Cox Technic.

Question 19

Degenerative

Accepted Answer

getting steadily worse over time

Question 20

Diagnosis

Accepted Answer

the identification of the nature and cause of back pain based on subjective (information from you) and objective (information from physical tests and your body's response to them as well as imaging studies if available) findings

Question 21

Disc

Accepted Answer

the short term for intervertebral disc

Question 22

Evidence based medicine

Accepted Answer

is the application of the best healing protocols for specific medical conditions according to scientifically sound research outcomes from published reports ranging from meta-analyses and randomized control trials to conventional wisdom, balancing the risks and benefits of the treatment for the patient, in order to improve a patient's quality of life

Cox Technic is a chiropractic procedure with conventional wisdom, clinical case reports, randomized control trials and on-going federally funded research documenting the clinical and biomechanical effects of Cox Technic for spine pain patients.

Question 23

Facet

Accepted Answer

the back (posterior) part of the vertebral body that attaches with ligaments to allow movement among the vertebrae

Question 24

Facet joints

Accepted Answer

one pair faces up and one pair faces down

Question 25

Flexion Distraction

Accepted Answer

Flexion distraction is the original term Dr. James Cox, Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decompression's founder, gave this technique in the late 1960's when he started using it in clinic, publishing its outcomes in journals and gathering data on its clinical outcomes. Please see Cox Technic for more information.

Question 26

Galvanic current

Accepted Answer

direct-current (DC) electricity

Question 27

Herniated Disc

Accepted Answer

same as slipped disc, bulging disc, ruptured disc - a condition in which the inner part of the intervertebral disc called the nucleus pulposus pushes through the outer containing fibers of the disc called the annulus fibrosus. This bulging of the inner nucleus into the annulus fibrosus can take two forms. If the nucleus is held within the annulus fibrosus, the process is termed a contained disc, and sometimes referred to as a disc protrusion or herniation. If the annulus fibrosus tears and allows the inner nucleus pulposus to escape through the annulus fibrosus it is called a non-contained disc herniation and often called a ruptured or fragmented disc.

Question 28

Intermittent Claudication

Accepted Answer

Pain feeling like a cramp and weakness in the legs and especially the 
calves when walking that disappears after resting a bit; usually 
associated with inadequate blood supply to the muscles

Question 29

Intervertebral disc

Accepted Answer

the spongy cushion between the bones/vertebrae of the spine that acts as a shock absorber for the spine

Question 30

Ionophoresis

Accepted Answer

used with physiotherapy modality (galvanic electric current) to drive out inflammation and sedate nerves

Question 31

Joint

Accepted Answer

the point where two or more bones join

Question 32

Kyphosis

Accepted Answer

curve

Question 33

Ligament

Accepted Answer

tissue connecting body parts

Question 34

Ligament Calcification

Accepted Answer

ossification (ligaments turn to bone) of the posterior longitudinal ligament

Question 35

Ligamentum Flava

Accepted Answer

The ligamentum flava are the ligaments (aka yellow ligaments) that connect from the axis of the spine (in the neck at level C2) to the sacrum of the spine (the lowest part of the spine at level S1). It is quite elastic and remains taut throughout the spine as it connects from one vertebral bone's facet capsule to another.

Question 36

Ligamentum flavum

Accepted Answer

Ligamentum flavum connects the back of one vertebral bone to the vertebra adjacent to it. The ligamentum flava are the series of elastic bands that run throughout the spine from the cervical spine segment C2 to the sacrum segment S1, keeping us upright. The ligamentum flavum is quite elastic and remains taut throughout the spine as it connects from one vertebral bone's facet capsule and lamina to another.

Cervical spine ligamentum flava are thin, thoracic are thicker, and lumbar are thickest.

Ligamentum flava fill in the spinal canal arc inside the vertebral bodies of the spinal column. (See the white arrows on the image to the left.)

These bands may become abnormally thickened, causing pain due to a condition known as ligamentum flavum hypertrophy.

Question 37

Ligamentum Flavum Hypertrophy

Accepted Answer

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (thickening) is a degenerative spinal condition often occurring in the elderly as a result of stresses placed upon it due to aging changes in the spine such as disc degeneration and disc herniation and joint arthritis. It causes the spinal canal to narrow which results in spinal nerve compression and irritation. Since the ligamentum flavum lies in the back part of the spinal vertebral canal, it fills the vertebral canal behind the vertebral body.

Question 38

Lordosis

Accepted Answer

posterior concavity of a curve

Question 39

Lumbago

Accepted Answer

mild to severe low back pain that can be due to a simple strain or something more serious

Question 40

Lumbar

Accepted Answer

the lower segment of the spinal column allowing flexion, extension, side bending, and twisting of the spine

Question 41

Migraine

Accepted Answer

severe headache accompanied by symptoms like light sensitivity, nausea, sound sensitivity

Question 42

Muscle

Accepted Answer

body tissue producing movement

Question 43

Myelopathy

Accepted Answer

severe compression of the spinal cord resulting in severe symptoms requiring co-management and possible cervical spine decompression surgery; spinal cord compression

Question 44

Nervous System

Accepted Answer

the body's system of organs - brain, spinal cord, nerves, etc. - that receives and sends signals throughout the body via neurons

Question 45

Nociceptive

Accepted Answer

caused by pain; reaction to painful stimulus

Question 46

Nucleus pulposus

Accepted Answer

The gel-like center of an intervertebral disc made up of 80% water. It is surrounded and contained by the annulus fibrosus which prevents this material from protruding outside the disc space.

Question 47

Occipitalization

Accepted Answer

Occipitalization is the assimilation of the atlas vertebra to the occiput, resulting in a person's cervical spine not having a C1 (first cervical spine) vertebral (bone) segment.

Question 48

Organic

Accepted Answer

(as in organic disease) - relating to the organs of the body, specifically to basic changes in them brought about by physical disorders

Question 49

Osteoarthritis

Accepted Answer

Osteoarthritis (also known as OA, degenerative arthritis, degenerative joint disease, osteoarthrosis) is a joint disease caused by cartilage loss in a joint. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis, especially in older people. Osteoarthritis causes joint stiffness and pain due to the wearing down of the cartilage on bones that allows the bones to rub on each other. As time passes, the joint loses shape and may even develop bone spurs which causes even more pain.

Gentle, chiropractic care may open the joint spaces to alleviate the pain.

Question 50

Osteochondrosis

Accepted Answer

Osteochondrosis is a family of orthopedic diseases in the joint. No one cause has yet been identified. Symptoms of osteochondrosis typically affect the older-than-30-years person, but occasionally younger teens-25 year olds are affected. A spinal form of osteochondrosis is Scheuermann's Disease.

A clinical case report regarding the finding of osteochondrosis in a spinal pain patient who was treated with Cox Technic Flexion Distraction and Decempression is described.

Question 51

Pars Interarticularis

Accepted Answer

part of the vertebral body

Question 52

Patency

Accepted Answer

Patency is the natural open and unblocked state of an artery, duct or tube in the body.

Question 53

Posterior

Accepted Answer

in back of

Question 54

PPOD

Accepted Answer

pelvic pain and organic dysfunction

Question 55

Progressive Neurological Deficits

Accepted Answer

worsening symptoms like losing your ability to lift your foot to walk or grip a hairbrush

Question 56

Pseudo

Accepted Answer

“false” - as in pseudospondylolisthesis meaning false spondylolisthesis because pseudospondylolisthesis does not have a fracture of the pars like spondylolisthesis does, yet it has similar symptomatology.

Question 57

Radicular Pain

Accepted Answer

pain that radiates down an extremity (arm or leg) along a specific nerve path

Question 58

Radiculitis

Accepted Answer

inflammation of a portion of the spinal nerve root resulting in pain that travels along the nerve's path in the body from the spinal cord.

Question 59

Retrolisthesis

Accepted Answer

the backward slippage of one vertebra onto the vertebra immediately below

Question 60

Ruptured Disc

Accepted Answer

same as herniated disc, bulging disc, slipped disc - a condition in which the inner part of the intervertebral disc called the nucleus pulposus pushes through the outer containing fibers of the disc called the annulus fibrosus. This bulging of the inner nucleus into the annulus fibrosus can take two forms. If the nucleus is held within the annulus fibrosus, the process is termed a contained disc, and sometimes referred to as a disc protrusion or herniation. If the annulus fibrosus tears and allows the inner nucleus pulposus to escape through the annulus fibrosus it is called a non-contained disc herniation and often called a ruptured or fragmented disc.

Question 61

Sacral

Accepted Answer

the base (lowest part) of the spine

Question 62

Sciatica

Accepted Answer

disturbing leg pain that starts in the low back and travels the course 
of an irritated nerve. It may extend down one or both legs.

Question 63

Scleratogenous Pain

Accepted Answer

low back, buttock, and thigh pain that could be due to herniation, degenerative disc disease, spinal arthritis, sacroiliac joint, stenosis due to spinal arthritis due to degenerative disc disease

Question 64

Slipped Disc

Accepted Answer

same as herniated disc, bulging disc, ruptured disc - a condition in 
which the inner part of the intervertebral disc called the nucleus 
pulposus pushes through the outer containing fibers of the disc called 
the annulus fibrosus. This bulging of the inner nucleus into the annulus
 fibrosus can take two forms. If the nucleus is held within the annulus 
fibrosus, the process is termed a contained disc, and sometimes referred
 to as a disc protrusion or herniation. If the annulus fibrosus tears 
and allows the inner nucleus pulposus to escape through the annulus 
fibrosus it is called a non-contained disc herniation and often called a
 ruptured or fragmented disc.

Call Us at 360-260-6903

Vancouver Chiropractic Glossary of Terms