Cage - Piece
of medical equipment used to fill the disc space left after a
disc has been removed.
Calcification - Accumulation
of calcium salts into tissue.
Cancellous bone - Type
of bone with a porous structure made up of intersecting plates
and bars (lattice-like structure) that form small cavities or
cells. Soft, spongy bone.
Capsule - The
ligament which surrounds a moveable joint.
Cartilage - Fibrous
connective tissue that covers the end of a bone at a joint ;
this tissue reduces the amount of friction resulting from movement.
Cauda equina - The
roots of the upper sacral nerves that extend beyond the termination
of the spinal cord of the first lumbar vertebra in the form of
a bundle of filaments within the spinal canal, resembling a horse's
tail.
Caudad - Towards
the tail.
Cephalad - Towards
the head.
Cervical plexus - A
plexus formed by the anterior division of the four upper cervical
nerves.
Cervical scoliosis - Scoliosis having its apex at C1 to the C6-C7 disc.
Cervical spine - Portion
of the vertebral column contained in the neck, consisting of
seven cervical vertebrae between the skull and the rib cage.
Cervical spondylosis - Degenerative disease of both the disc and the zygapophyseal
joints occuring in the cervical spine.
Cervical-thoracic scoliosis - Scoliosis having its apex at C7, T1 or the intervening
disc space.
Chronic pain - Chronic
pain is that which lasts a long time (over six months) and is
not relieved by standard medical management. Chronic pain may
result from a previous injury long since healed. Or it may have
an ongoing cause, such as arthritis, cancer, nerve damage, or
chronic infection. With chronic pain, normal lifestyles can be
restricted or even impossible. Many people suffer with chronic
pain, unaware that there are a variety of treatment options that
can help them live more normal lives.
Chronological definition of idiopathic
scoliosis presentations :
Infantile scoliosis - presenting from birth
through age 2
Juvenile scoliosis - presenting from age
3 through age 10
Adolescent scoliosis - presenting from
age 11 through age 17
Adult scoliosis - presenting from age 18
and beyond.
Coccyx : The
"tail bone" or last portion of the vertebral column
beyond the sacrum.
Compensatory curve - in spinal deformity, a secondary curve located
above or below the structural curvature, which develops in order
to maintain normal body alignment.
Compression fractures due to osteoporosis
- Loss of bone density makes bones
fragile and more likely to break or fracture. Compression fractures
in the spine can cause severe back pain.
Concave - The
depressed or cave-like surface.
Congenital - Existing
at or dating from birth.
Congenital scoliosis - scoliosis due to bony abnormalities of the spine
present at birth. These anomalies are classified as failure of
vertebral formation and/or failure of segmentation.
Contraindication - Conditions under which a device should not be used
because the risks associated with the use of the device are greater
than the benefits.
Conus Medullaris - A tapering lower part of the spinal cord at the
level of the first lumbar segment.
Convex - The
rounded or elevated surface.
Cortical - The
dense outer layer of bone.
