spinal column


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Financial, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

column

 [kol´um]
an anatomical part or other structure that resembles a pillar.
anal c's vertical folds of mucous membrane at the upper half of the anal canal; called also rectal columns.
anterior column the anterior portion of the gray substance of the spinal cord, in transverse section seen as a horn.
gray column the longitudinally oriented parts of the spinal cord in which the nerve cell bodies are found, comprising the gray matter of the spinal cord.
lateral column the lateral portion of the gray substance of the spinal cord, in transverse section seen as a horn; present only in the thoracic and upper lumbar regions.
posterior column the posterior portion of the gray substance of the spinal cord, in transverse section seen as a horn.
rectal c's anal columns.
spinal column (vertebral column) spine (def. 2).
Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.

ver·te·bral col·umn

[TA]
the series of vertebrae that extend from the cranium to the coccyx, providing support and forming a flexible bony case for the spinal cord.
Synonym(s): columna vertebralis [TA], spine (2) [TA], backbone, dorsal spine, rachis, spina dorsalis, spinal column, vertebrarium
Farlex Partner Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

spinal column

n.
The series of articulated vertebrae, separated by intervertebral disks and held together by muscles and tendons, that extends from the cranium to the coccyx or the end of the tail, encasing the spinal cord and forming the central support of the body; the spine. Also called vertebral column.
The American Heritage® Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2007, 2004 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

ver·te·bral col·umn

(vĕr'tĕ-brăl kol'ŭm) [TA]
The series of vertebrae that extend from the cranium to the coccyx, providing support and forming a flexible bony case for the spinal cord.
Synonym(s): columna vertebralis [TA] , backbone, rachis, spina, spinal column, spine (2) .
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012

column

(kol'um) [L. columna, pillar]
A cylindrical supporting structure.

anal column

Vertical folds of the mucous membrane in the anal canal. Synonym: rectal column

anterior column

Ventral column.

column of Bertin

See: Bertin, Exupère

column of Burdach

See: Burdach, Karl

Clarke's column

See: Clarke, Jacob A.L.

dorsal column

The triangular (in cross-section) sector of white matter demarcated by the dorsal midline (the dorsal median sulcus) and the dorsal horn on each side of the spinal cord. The dorsal column is a large bundle of ipsilateral primary sensory axons.
Synonym: dorsal funiculus; posterior column 2

column of fornix

Either of two arched bands of fibers that form the anterior body of the fornix. The fibers lead to the mammillary body.

column of Goll

See: Goll, Friedrich

gray column

Gray matter in the anterior and posterior horns of the spinal cord.

intermediolateral cell column

Lateral horn.

lateral column

1. A column in the lateral portion of the gray matter of the spinal cord. It contains cell bodies of preganglionic neurons of the sympathetic nervous system.
2. The triangular (in cross-section) sector of white matter demarcated by the dorsal and ventral horns on each side of the spinal cord. The lateral column contains axons of neurons with cell bodies inside the brain or spinal cord, not axons from the dorsal root ganglia. Synonym: lateral funiculus
3. The articulation in the midfoot between the fourth and fifth metatarsal bones and the cuboid.

motorcolumn

In the brainstem and spinal cord, a group of functionally analogous motor nuclei that are aligned longitudinally and that occupy a stereotyped position in cross-sections. The three motor columns, which run in the medial and ventral quadrants of the brainstem and spinal cord, comprise the branchial motor column (the nucleus ambiguus, the facial motor nucleus, and the trigeminal motor nucleus), the somatic motor column (the ventral horns of the spinal cord and the hypoglossal, abducens, trochlear, and oculomotor nuclei), and the visceral motor column (the lateral horns of the spinal cord and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, the salivatory nucleus, and the Edinger-Westphal nucleus).

posterior column

1. The posterior horn of the gray matter of the spinal cord. It consists of an expanded portion or caput connected by a narrower cervix to the main portion of the gray matter.
2. Dorsal column.

rectal column

Anal column.

renal column

Cortical material of the kidney that extends centrally, separating the pyramids.

sensorycolumn

In the brainstem and spinal cord, a group of functionally analogous secondary sensory nuclei that are aligned longitudinally and that occupy a stereotyped position in cross-sections. The three sensory columns, which run in the lateral and dorsal quadrants of the brainstem and spinal cord, comprise the general somatic sensory column (the dorsal horns of the spinal cord and the mesencephalic, principal sensory, and spinal trigeminal nuclei), the special somatic sensory column (the cochlear and vestibular nuclei), and the visceral sensory column (the nucleus of the solitary tract).

spinal column

Vertebral column.

ventral column

The triangular (in cross-section) sector of white matter demarcated by the ventral horn and the ventral midline (the ventral median fissure) on each side of the spinal cord. The ventral column contains axons of neurons with cell bodies inside the brain or spinal cord, not axons from the dorsal root ganglia.
Synonym: anterior column; ventral funiculus
Enlarge picture
VERTEBRAL COLUMN

vertebral column

The portion of the axial skeleton consisting of vertebrae (7 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, the sacrum, and the coccyx) joined together by intervertebral disks and fibrous tissue. It forms the main supporting axis of the body, encloses and protects the spinal cord, and attaches the appendicular skeleton and muscles for moving the various body parts.
Synonym: spinal column See: illustration
Medical Dictionary, © 2009 Farlex and Partners

spinal column

See VERTEBRAL COLUMN.
Collins Dictionary of Medicine © Robert M. Youngson 2004, 2005

spinal column

see VERTEBRAL COLUMN.
Collins Dictionary of Biology, 3rd ed. © W. G. Hale, V. A. Saunders, J. P. Margham 2005

Patient discussion about spinal column

Q. Anyone have knowledge of cancer in the spine? Doctors think my 40 year old brother has. My brother has been undergoing test and treatnment for back problems since a vehicle accident in August. The did a test last week and Monday said they saw 4 nodules they think are cancer, his doctor said everytime he had seen this it was cancer. I am devestated right now but trying to stay positive. I am sure you will notice it on the site b/c I know it is affecting me and the stress and worry has the fibromyalgia kicking in at full speed:-( PLEASE anything you can tell me would be a help!

A. Thank you for the answer and the prayers!

Q. I have hurt my cervical spine and shoulder in a rear end car crash in July. Why does it still hurt?

A. Spine and back injuries are known to to be causing a lot of pain and discomfort and for a long period of time. You should try and do some mellow exercise and physiotherapy that might help you a lot. If the pain is unbarable, you should consult your doctor about using pain medications.

Q. Has anyone had a spine fusion that failed? Or hardware that failed?

A. Haven't experienced it myself, but here (http://www.spine-health.com/forum/treatments/back-surgery-and-neck-surgery) you may find a discussion about it.

More discussions about spinal column
This content is provided by iMedix and is subject to iMedix Terms. The Questions and Answers are not endorsed or recommended and are made available by patients, not doctors.
Mentioned in ?
References in periodicals archive ?
* The spinal column is a complex biological structure, containing 33-34 vertebrae, 344 joints and 24 intervertebral discs.
Modeling of human spinal column and simulation of spinal deformities
By using different methods of subjective assessment, we search for the asymmetries provoked by the spinal column curves that exceed the physiological normality of the child's or the adolescent's body structure.
The body posture and its imbalances in children and adolescents
The factors were the patient's age, height, anatomic configuration of the spinal column, the site on injection, the direction of the needle during the injection, the volume of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the density of CSF, the density and baricity of the anesthetic solution injected, the position of the patient (with hypo- or hyperbaric solutions), the dosage of local anesthetic and the volume of anesthetic solution injected.
Correlation between spinal column length and the spread of subarachnoid hyperbaric bupivacaine in the term parturient
Instead, a surgeon will shave the skull bone to try to give the herniation more space, which will relieve pressure on both the brain and spinal column.
A family's pain
The shot that knocked him out was a spinal process hit with a 500 grain .45-70 that didn't get the spinal column.
Not predictable
While riding bikes she has broken an ankle and shoulder blade, and she is now awaiting an MRI scan to investigate a severe narrowing of the spinal column.
Running scared; SHE'S OVERCOME BROKEN BONES, MAJOR SURGERY AND FAMILY TRAGEDY... NOW SPINE INJURY COULD END ATHLETE'S CAREER
After a wild ride in an ambulance, multiple X-rays, and some MRIs, I learned that I had broken and dislocated two vertebrae (C4 and C5) in my neck, and they were pushing into my spinal column. [My medical source tells me the author probably meant "spinal canal" or "spinal cord," rather than "spinal column."--Ed.] I also had broken my right shoulder blade and displaced my right collarbone.
I survived Iraq, but ..
CEO Hawkins blamed "softness" in demand for X-Stop, a Kyphon device to treat a narrowing of the spinal column that leads to pinched nerves.
Medtronic profit rises on stent sales, workforce reductions
As set out in the road map of July 2005 on the measures to combat transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), the Commission decided to increase the age limit for the removal of the spinal column from bovines when they are slaughtered.
ANIMAL HEALTH : EU QUIETLY TURNS PAGE ON MAD COW DISEASE
The spinal cord is protected by the vertebrae, the tiny bones making up the spinal column. Together, the spinal cord and brain make up the central nervous system.
The spinal cord
What name is given to creatures without a spinal column?
Quiz of the Day

Medical browser ?
Full browser ?