Glossary
- COLLAR
- A band, usually denoting one encircling the neck.
- COMA
- A state of profound unconsciousness from which one cannot be roused.
- COMBINED STENOSIS
- For congenital or developmental reasons, the midsagittal diameter is decreased.
- COMMINUTED FRACTURE
- A fracture in which a bone is broken into more than two pieces. Often internal or external fixation devices are used to maintain proper alignment of the fragments.
- COMMISSURAL MYELORRHAPY
- A longitudinal division of the spinal cord to sever crossing fibers.
- COMPENSATORY CURVE
- A curve located above or below a rigid structural curve to maintain normal overall body alignment.
- COMPRESSION
- A squeezing together; the exertion of pressure on a body in such a way as to tend to increase its density; the decrease in a dimension of a body under the action of two external forces directed toward one another in the same straight line.
- COMPRESSION of NERVE ROOT
- Mechanical process resulting from a tumor, fracture, or herniated disc; the resulting irritation is called radiculitis if there is actual inflammation around the nerve. Pain from this type of disorder is called radicular pain.
- COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CT) SCAN
- A diagnostic imaging technique in which a computer reads x-rays to create a three-dimensional map of soft tissue or bone.
- CONCUSSION
- A disruption, usually temporary, of neurological function resulting from a blow or violent shaking.
- CONGENITAL SCOLIOSIS
- Scoliosis due to bony abnormalities present at birth involving either failure of formation of a vertebra or separation of adjacent vertebrae.
- CONSTITUTIONAL STENOSIS
- Normal-statured individuals with congenital variance in vertebral structure leading to a narrow canal.
- CONTRACT
- To shorten; to become reduced in size; in the case of muscle, either to shorten or to undergo an increase in tension.
- CONTRAST MEDIUM
- Any material (usually opaque to x-rays) employed to delineate or define a structure during a radiologic procedure.
- CONTUSION
- A bruise; an area in which blood that has leaked out of blood vessels is mixed with brain tissue.
- CORDOTOMY
- Transverse incision into the spinal cord.
- CORONAL SUTURE
- The line of junction of the frontal bones and the parietal bones of the skull.
- CORPECTOMY
- Excision of vertebral body usually combined with interpostion of prosthesis or bone graft.
- CORPUS CALLOSUM
- The greatest commissure of the brain between the cerebral hemispheres.
- CORTEX
- The external layer of gray matter covering the hemispheres of the cerebrum and cerebellum.
- CORTICAL
- Pertaining to the cortex.
- CORTICAL BONE
- The dense bone that forms the outer surface of bone.
- COSTO
- Combining form denoting relation to ribs.
- COSTOCHONDRAL JUNCTION
- junction of the rib into cartilage in the anterior chest. NOTE: Most of the ribs have attachment to the cartilage rather than a direct junction with the breast bone.
- COSTOVERTEBRAL ANGLE
- Juncture of tissue inferior and lateral to the twelfth rib and vertebral body.
- COSTOVERTEBRAL JOINT
- Junction of the rib with the thoracic spine.
- COTREL-DUBOUSSET
- Posterior fixation device for spinal deformity, fracture, tumor, and degenerative conditions.
- CRAMP
- A painful muscle spasm caused by prolonged tetanic contraction.
- CRANIECTOMY
- Opening of skull and removal of a portion of it.
- CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA
- Congenital tumor arising from the embryonic duct between the brain and pharynx.
