Anatomy of
Back Muscle
Terms you should know
Annulus fibrosis : A series of rings made up of fibrous material, surrounding the soft center of a disc.
Cauda equina : Lower end of the spinal column that resembles a horse’s tail.
Cervical : The neck region.
Chemonucleolysis : A surgical procedure in which an enzyme is used to dissolve a portion of the intervertebral disc.
CT Scan : A special x-ray procedure using a computer to produce a detailed cross-sectional three-dimensional picture of the bone and discs.
Discectomy : Surgical removal of part or the entire herniated intervertebral disc.
Electrical nerve stimulation : A type of physical therapy treatment that utilizes various frequencies and wave forms of electrical current, which have therapeutic effects on the nervous and musculoskeletal systems.
Herniated disc : A disc that is displaced from its position between tow vertebrae.
Ligament : Strong, dense structures made of connective tissue that connects bone to bone across the joint. It stabilizes the joint.
Lumbar : The lower back region.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) : Magnetic radio frequency energy used to see internal structures of the body, including bone, discs, and nerves without the use of x-rays.
Nucleus pulposus : Soft centre of an intervertebral disc. It is made up of a gel-like substance.
Osteophyte : A small, abnormal bony outgrowth.
Prolapsed disc : A disc that bulges out from its position between two vertebrae.
Ruptured disc : A disc with a torn annulus (the tough outer covering of an disc)
Sciatic nerve : The nerve that serves the legs.
Sciatica : Involvement of the sciatic nerve, usually marked by pain along the course of the nerve through the buttocks, thigh and leg.
Spinal Cord : The column of nerve tissue that runs from the brain to the lower back through the lspine.
Spinal fusion : A process in which the disc and cartilage are removed from between the vertebrae, and bone grafts are placed between or alongside the vertebrae to join the bones together.
Spinal stenosis : Narrowing of a portion of the spinal canal, usually because of bony overgrowth.
Tendons : Fibre bands of tissue that attach muscle to bone.
Thoracic : The trunk region.
