Body Part - Spine
LIGAMENTUM FLAVUM
The spinal ligament towards the back of the spine that helps to support the back. Often a “hypertrophied” or thickened ligamentum flavum contribute to spinal stenosis. They become thickened as a part of aging and arthritis.
LORDOSIS
Describes the normal curvature of the spine and usually refers to the lumbar or back area. Can also describe the normal curvature of the upper or cervical spine.
LUMBAR
The lower back. Is composed of 5 vertebrae.
MARROW
Also referred to as “bone marrow”. An MRI can analyze the bone marrow of your spine. Normal bone marrow has a characteristic appearance on MRI. A variety of benign and malignant diseases including trauma can affect the bone marrow.
MODIC
Refers to a spectrum or degree of change in the vertebra related to arthritis. Often there are 3 types of Modic changes. Type 1 is early arthritis, type 2 is a later stage of arthritis changes, and type 3 is advanced or late stage arthritis changes.
MULTILEVEL
Refers to multiple levels in the spinal cord. For example, if you radiology report says “multilevel spondylosis” it refers to arthritis at multiple spinal levels.
MYELOMALACIA
Literally means a “softening” of the spinal cord. This implies that the process affecting the spinal cord is long-standing or “chronic”. Usually the spinal cord shrinks and can undergo a “signal change” or different color on MRI.
MYELOPHATHY
Refers to a disease affecting the spinal cord. It can be related to arthritis with disc pushing on the spinal cord, trauma with direct injury to the cord, vascular where the blood supply is decreased, infectious or inflammatory, or related to a spinal cord tumor.
OSSEOUS
Any process referring to or affecting the bone.
OSTEOARTHRITIS or OSTEOARTHRITIC
Arthritis affecting the spine.
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