Adolescent scoliosis - Three dimensional deformity of the spine appearing
before the onset of puberty and before skeletal maturity.
Adult scoliosis - Scoliosis
existing after skeletal maturity. It may be due to untreated
adolescent scoliosis, degenerative disease or other causes.
Allogenic blood - The
term that refers to the genetic differences between individuals
of the same species. Most often used to denote cells taken from
a donor and transfused or transplanted into a nonidentical recipient.
For example, a patient with type A blood must receive blood that
is type A or O.
Allograft - Tissues
transfused between members of the same species, i.e. human to
human but may be removed from a cadaver rather than from a living
donor.
Angle of Trunk Inclination (ATI) - With the trunk flexed 90° at the hips, the
angle between the horizontal and the plane across the posterior
spine at the greatest elevation of a rib prominence, as measured
on an inclinometer (scoliometer).
Ankylosing spondylitis - Rheumatoid arthritis of the spine. An inflammatory
disease of the spine which leads to bony ankylosis of the vertebral
articulations.
Annulus Fibrosis - External part of the intervertebral disc consisting
in a ring of fibro cartilaginous tissue that surrounds the nucleus
pulposus.
Anterior Longitudinal Ligament - Begins at the anterior aspect of the base of the
occipital bone and is attached to the atlas and anterior surface
of all vertebrae including part of the sacrum.
Anterior Spinal Arterty - A single, unpaired artery that supplies blood to
the spinal cord, its membrane and adjacent structures, and is
formed by the branch of the vertebral artery on each side and
descends in the anterior median fissure of the spinal cord.
Apical disc - The
disc most deviated from the vertical axis of the patient.
Apical vertebra - The
vertebra most deviated from the vertical axis of the patient.
Arachnoïd - One
of the three membranes surrounding the brain, spinal cord and
nerve roots.
Arachnoiditis - Disease
occuring when the membrane that is in direct contact with the
spinal fluid becomes inflamed. This inflammation causes pain
by pressing on the nerves.
Arthrodesis - The
fusion of bones across a joint space, thereby limiting or eliminating
motion from the joint. It may occur spontaneously or as a result
of a surgical procedure such as fusion of the spine.
Articular process - Either of two processes on each side of a vertebra
that articulates with adjoining vertebrae.
Atlas - First
cervical vertebra.
Atraumatic - not traumatic
Autograft - Any
tissue removed from one place in the body and transferred to
another site in the same individual.
Autologous blood - The patient's own blood or blood components, the
best possible blood for a patient since there is no chance of
disease transmission or a transfusion reaction.
Autotransfusion - The
collection, processing and reinfusion of one's own blood which
has been lost due to trauma or surgical procedure.
Axis - Second
cervical vertebra.
