Neck and Back Injuries Glossary of Terms

1. Slideshow: Low Back Pain
2. Take the Back Pain Quiz!
3. Good and Bad Exercises for Low Back Pain

Cervical: Having to do with any kind of neck, including the neck on which the head is perc...

CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

Extremity: An uttermost part of the body, such as a hand or a foot.

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Lumbar: Referring to the five lumbar vertebrae, the disks below them, and the correspondin...

Lumbar strain: A stretching injury to the ligaments, tendons, and/or muscles of the low ba...

Medical school: A school with a curriculum leading to a medical degree. The mission of eve...

Neck: The part of the body joining the head to the shoulders. Also, any narrow or constric...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Paralysis: Loss of voluntary movement (motor function). Paralysis that affects only one mu...

Pharmacy: A location where prescription medications are sold. A pharmacy is constantly sup...

Sciatica: Pain that results from irritation of the sciatic nerve and typically radiates fr...

Spasm: A brief, automatic jerking movement. A muscle spasm can be quite painful, with the ...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue ...

Strain: 1. An injury to a tendon or muscle resulting from overuse or trauma. 2. A heredita...

Trauma: A physical or emotional injury.

Vertebral column: The 33 vertebrae that fit together to form a flexible, yet extraordinari...

Vomit: Matter from the stomach that has come up into and may be ejected beyond the mouth, ...