Definition of Back pain
Back pain: Pain felt in the low or upper back. There are many causes of back pain.
Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Pain in the upper back can also be a result of disorders of the aorta, chest tumors, and inflammation of the spine.
Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionaryhttp://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=25125
Last Editorial Review: 1/14/2004
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