L2
The second lumbar vertebra towards the upper back.
L3
The third lumbar vertebra towards the mid back.
L4
The fourth lumbar vertebra towards the lower back.
L5
The fifth lumbar vertebra towards the lowest part of the back.
LACERATION
Tearing of tissue or body part from injury.
LACTATIONAL CHANGE
Breast changes during breast feeding including breast swelling, increased glandular tissue and enlarged milk ducts.
LACUNAR INFARCT
A small (usually less than 1 and ½ centimeters) area of dead brain tissue. Multiple lacunar infarcts are also referred to as “mini-strokes”.
LACUNE
A French word meaning lake. It refers to a tiny (less than 1 and ½ centimeter) area of stroke.
LAMINA
A portion of the vertebra that connect the spinous process to the transverse process. If you can imagine the vertebra as a pretzel it is part of the ring connecting the front part of the vertebra to the back part.
LAMINAR NECROSIS
Used to describe the appearance of the injured brain tissue. It is part of the normal healing process. This is also call “cortical laminar necrosis”.