Bma Illustrated Medical Dictionary

Disc prolapsemay lead to pressure on

a spinal nerve, causing pain. Injury to a

nerve may lead to loss of sensation or

movement in the area supplied by the

nerve. (See also nerve injury; neuropathy.)

spinal tapSee lumbar puncture.

spineThe column of bones and carti-

lage that extends from the base of the

skull to the pelvis, enclosing the spinal

cordand supporting the trunk and head.

The spine is made up of 33 roughly

cylindrical vertebrae. Each pair of adja-

cent vertebrae is connected by a facet

joint, which stabilizes the vertebral col-

umn. Between each pair of vertebrae lies

a disc-shaped pad of cartilage called an

intervertebral disc (see disc, interverte-

bral). These discs cushion the vertebrae

during movement. The vertebrae are

bound together by 2 ligamentsrunning

the length of the spine and by smaller

ligaments between each vertebra.

Attached to the

vertebrae are sev-

eral groups of

muscles, which

control movement

of, and help to

support, the spine.

spine, disorders

ofMany disorders

of the spine cause

back pain. Spina

bifidais a congen-

ital disorder in

which part of the

spinal cord is ex-

posed. Sometimes,

the spine is abnor-

mally curved (see

lordosis, kyphosis,

scoliosis). In ankylo-

sing spondylitis, and

in some cases of

rheumatoid arth-

ritis, spinal joints

are affected; osteo-

arthritisaffects the

spinal joints of

most people over

60. Other disorders
    affecting the spine
    are spinal injuries;
    disc prolapse, and
    spondylolisthesis.

spirochaeteA spiral-shaped bacterium.

Spirochaetes cause syphilis, leptospirosis,

relapsing fever, and Lyme disease.

spirometryA pulmonary function test

used to diagnose or assess a lung disor-

der or to monitor treatment. It records the

rate at which a person exhales air from

the lungs and the total volume exhaled.

spironolactoneA potassium-sparing

diuretic drug, which is given to treat

heart failure. Spironolactone may cause

numbness, weakness, and nausea. Less

common side effects include diarrhoea,

lethargy, impotence, rash, and irregular

menstruation. High doses may cause

abnormal breast enlargement in men.

spleenAn organ that removes worn-out

and defective red blood cells from the

circulation and helps to fight infection by

producing some of the antibodies, lym-

phocytes, and phagocytesthat destroy

invading microorganisms. The spleen is

a fist-sized, spongy organ in the upper

left abdomen behind the lower ribs.

The spleen enlarges in many diseases.

These include infections such as malaria

and infectious mononucleosis; blood dis-

orderssuch as leukaemia, thalassaemia,

and sickle cell anaemia; and tumours

such as lymphomas. Enlargement of the

spleen may be accompanied by hyper-

splenism. The spleen may be ruptured by

a severe blow to the abdomen. This can

SPINAL TAP SPLEEN

S

SPINE

Cervical
spine (7
vertebrae)

Lumbar
spine (5
vertebrae)

Sacrum
(5 fused
vertebrae)

Coccyx
(4 fused
vertebrae)

Thoracic
spine (12
vertebrae)

SPIROMETRY

Monitor Nose clip

Spirometer