Lumbar vertebra Health Dictionary

A term used to denote structures in, or diseases affecting, the region of the loins (see LOIN) – as, for example, the lumbar vertebrae, lumbar abscess.... lumbar

A procedure for removing CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) from the spinal canal in the LUMBAR region in order: (1) to diagnose disease of the nervous system; (2) to introduce medicaments – spinal anaesthetics or drugs. A hollow needle is inserted into the lower section of the space around the SPINAL CORD (see diagram) and the cerebrospinal ?uid withdrawn. The procedure should not be done too rapidly or the subject may develop a severe headache. Examination of the cerebrospinal ?uid helps in the diagnosis and investigation of disorders of the brain and spinal cord – for example, MENINGITIS and SUBARACHNOID HAEMORRHAGE. When using the procedure to inject drugs into the CSF, the operator must take care to inject only those agents speci?cally produced for CSF injection. Deaths have occurred because the wrong drug has been injected, and there have been demands for specialised equipment and strict procedures that will prevent such tragedies.... lumbar puncture

One of the irregularly shaped bones that together form the vertebral column. (See SPINAL COLUMN.)... vertebra

The seven bones of the top end of the backbone that form the neck. The ?rst cervical vertebra is the atlas and this articulates with the base of the skull. The axis is the second vertebra, which contains a shaft of bone that allows the atlas to rotate on it, thus permitting the head to turn. (See SPINAL COLUMN.)... cervical vertebrae

The ?ve fused vertebrae that link the thoracic spine and the coccyx and form the sacrum (see SPINAL COLUMN).... sacral vertebrae

The lower back, five segments of the spinal chord and column, between the sacrum and thoracic regions.... lumbar region

Destruction of the LUMBAR chain of sympathetic nerves (see NERVOUS SYSTEM) by means of surgery, DIATHERMY or injection of chemicals (phenol or alcohol). The technique is used to improve the blood ?ow to the leg in patients with peripheral vascular disease, and to treat some types of chronic leg pain. It has only limited success.... lumbar sympathectomy

a weak area in the abdomen bounded by the iliac crest (below), the external oblique muscle (in front), and the erector spinae muscle (behind). It can be the site of a lumbar hernia.... lumbar triangle

the five bones of the *backbone that are situated between the thoracic vertebrae and the sacrum, in the lower part of the back. They are the largest of the unfused vertebrae and have stout processes for attachment of the strong muscles of the lower back. See also vertebra.... lumbar vertebrae

the 12 bones of the *backbone to which the ribs are attached. They lie between the cervical (neck) and lumbar (lower back) vertebrae and are characterized by the presence of facets for articulation with the ribs. See also vertebra.... thoracic vertebrae

see backbone.... vertebral column