Medical terms - Letter S (page 17) | MedicalVocabulary.org

Spina bifida

A birth defect (a congenital malformation) in which there is a bony defect in the vertebral column so that part of the spinal cord, which is normally protected within the vertebral column, is exposed. People with spina…
Spina bifida cystica

A bony defect in the vertebral column that causes a cleft in that column. The meningeal membranes that cover the spinal cord and part of the spinal cord protrude through this cleft, and are clearly visible. The opening…
Spina bifida occulta

A bony defect in the vertebral column that causes a cleft in that column. The cleft remains covered by skin. Treatment is usually not required
Spinal compression

The act of exerting an abnormal amount of pressure on the spinal cord. Spinal compression may, for instance, be due to a fracture of the spine or a tumor pressing on the spinal cord
Spinal cord

The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. Thirty-one pairs of spinal nerves originate in the spinal cord: 8 cervical, 12…
Spinal cord compression

The act of exerting an abnormal amount of pressure on the spinal cord. Compression of the spinal cord may, for instance, be due to a fracture of the spine or a tumor pressing on the spinal cord
Spinal cord disease in diabetes

Involvement of the spinal cord in people with diabetes. Most of the neurologic attention in diabetes mellitus has focused on distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSP) -- abnormalities of the peripheral nerves, in…
Spinal cord injury

Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies within the vertebral canal and from which the spinal nerves emerge. The spinal cord and…
Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion: A surgical procedure in which two or more of the vertebrae in the spine are united together so that motion no longer occurs between them. Bone grafts are usually placed around the section of the spine to…
Spinal muscular atrophy

A genetic disease characterized by progressive loss of lower motor neurons (anterior horn cells) in the spinal cord, resulting in symmetric muscle weakness and atrophy. The onset of the progressive muscle weakness…
Spinal nerve

One of the nerves that originates in the spinal cord. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves. They consist of the 8 cervical nerves, 12 thoracic nerves, 5 lumbar nerves, 5 sacral nerves, and 1 coccygeal nerve.
Spinal stenosis

Narrowing of the spaces in the spine, resulting in compression of the nerve roots or spinal cord by bony spurs or soft tissues, such as disks, in the spinal canal. This occurs most often in the lumbar spine (in the low…
Spinal Tap

Also known as a lumbar puncture or 'LP', a spinal tap is a procedure whereby spinal fluid is removed from the spinal canal for the purpose of diagnostic testing. It is particularly helpful in the diagnosis of…
Spindle cell

A cell that is tapered at both ends
Spindle neuron

A large neuron tapered at both ends that is only found in humans and great apes and so is thought to be a relatively recent evolutionary addition to the nervous system. Spindle neurons are confined to the anterior…
Spine

1) The column of bone known as the vertebral column, which surrounds and protects the spinal cord. The spine can be categorized according to level of the body: i.e., cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (upper and…
Spine, slipped

See: Spondylolisthesis
Spinocerebellar

Pertaining to the spinal cord and the cerebellum, as in spinocerebellar ataxia (ataxia with cerebellar malfunction)
Spinocerebellar ataxia

Ataxia with malfunction of the cerebellum
Spinous process

A slender projection from the back of a vertebra to which muscles and ligaments are attached
Spiral CAT scan

A conventional computerized axial tomography scan (CAT scan or CT scan) is an x-ray procedure which combines many x-ray images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views and, if needed…
Spiral fracture

A fracture, sometimes called a torsion fracture, in which a bone has been twisted apart. NTER>
Spirochete

A microscopic bacterial organism in the Spirochaeta family. Spirochetes have a worm-like, spiral-shaped form, and wiggle vigorously when viewed under a microscope. Treponema pallidum, the cause of syphilis, is a…
Spirometry

A test of the air capacity of the lung. The test utilizes a machine called a spirometer to measure the volume of air inspired and expired by the lungs
Spit

1. As a noun: Popular term for sputum.2. As a verb: To eject sputum; to expectorate.See: Sputum
Spitz-Holter valve

A pioneering one-way valve created by John Holter to treat hydrocephalus. In 1955 Mr. Holter, , a hydraulics technician, and his wife had a son with hydrocephalus for which there was then no effective treatment. Mr…
Spleen

An organ located in the upper left part of the abdomen near the stomach. The spleen produces lymphocytes; it is the largest lymphatic organ in the body. The spleen also filters the blood, serves as a major reservoir for…
Spleen, ruptured

Rupture of the capsule of the spleen is a potential catastrophe that requires immediate medical and surgical attention. Splenic rupture permits large amounts of blood to leak into the abdominal cavity, which is severely…
Splenectomy

An operation to remove the spleen
Splenic artery

A large artery within the abdomen that arises from an arterial vessel called the celiac trunk, which emerges from the aorta. The splenic artery supplies blood not only to the spleen, but also to the esophagus, stomach…
Splenic fever

Known also as anthrax, splenic fever is a serious bacterial infection. It is not primarily a human disease but rather an infection of animals. Cattle, sheep, horses, mules, and some wild animals are highly susceptible…
Splenic vein

A vein formed by the union of several small veins that return blood from the stomach, pancreas and spleen. The splenic vein is a major contributor to the portal vein which goes to the liver
Splenomegaly

Enlargement of the spleen.
Splicing, alternative

See Alternative splicing
Split personality

Multiple personality disorder, a neurosis in which the personality becomes dissociated into two or more distinct parts each of which becomes dominant and controls behavior from time to time to the exclusion of the other…
Split-hand/split-foot malformation

A genetic malformation syndrome of the limbs with syndactyly, median clefts of the hands and feet, and aplasia (failure of development) and/or hypoplasia (underdevelopment) of the phalanges (the digits), the metacarpals…
Spock, Benjamin

(1903-1998) American pediatrician whose book on 'Baby and Child Care' which first appeared in 1946 was one of the biggest best-sellers of all time. It sold some 50 million copies. Its revolutionary message to parents…
Spondylitis

Inflammation of one or more of the vertebrae of the spine. Diffuse inflammation of the spine is seen in the disease ankylosing spondylitis. Localized spondylitis is seen with infections of a certain area of the spine…
Spondylolisthesis

Forward movement of one of the building blocks (vertebrae) of the spine in relation to an adjacent vertebra. Spondylolisthesis differs in children and adults. In children it is usually of the fifth lumbar vertebra (L5)…
Spondylolysis

The breaking down (dissolution) of a portion of a bony building block of the spine (a vertebra). The portion of the vertebra that is affected in spondylolysis is a bone segment called the pars interarticularis (which is…
Spondylosis

Degeneration of the disc spaces between the vertebrae. This finding in the spine is commonly associated with osteoarthritis
Sponge, vaginal contraceptive

See: Vaginal contraceptive sponge
Spongiform

Resembling a sponge in being soft and full of cavities, as in as in transmissible spongiform encephalopathy
Spongiform encephalopathy and cerebral amyloidosis

See: Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker syndrome
Spongy degeneration of the central nervous system

Also called Canavan disease, this is a severe progressive fatal inherited (genetic) disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). The signs of Canavan disease usually appear when the children are between 3 and 6 months…
Spontaneous abortion

A miscarriage, that is, any pregnancy that is not viable (the fetus cannot survive) or in which the fetus is born before the 20th week of pregnancy. Spontaneous abortion occurs in at least 15-20% of all recognized…
Sporadic

>An endemic is present in a community at all times but in low frequency. An endemic is continuous, as in the case of malaria in some areas of the world or as with illicit drugs in certain neighborhoods. >An epidemic…
Sporadic primary pulmonary hypertension

See: Pulmonary hypertension
Sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis: An infection most commonly of the skin caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii. Persons handling thorny plants, sphagnum moss, or baled hay are at increased risk of developing sporotrichosis. Outbreaks…
Spot, blind

In ophthalmology, a blind spot is: > >A small area of the retina where the optic nerve enters the eye; this type of blind spot occurs normally in all eyes. >Any gap in the visual field corresponding to an area of the…