- Anterior – The front portion of the body.
- Annulus Fibrosus – The outer ring-like, fibrous portion of an intervertebral disc.
- Anterolateral – Situated in front of and to the side.
- Arthritis – Inflammation of a joint.
- Arthrodesis – Stiffening or fusion of a joint by surgical means.
- Arthropathy – Disease or disorder involving a joint.
- Arthroplasty – The surgical remodeling of a diseased or damaged joint.
- Arthroscope – An endoscope for use in a joint.
- Arthroscopy – Examining the inside of a joint.
- Bone - Hard tissue, primarily composed of hydroxyapatite crystals and collagen. Provides structural support to the body.
- Bone Graft – Bone transplanted form a donor site
- Bone Marrow – The tissue contained within the internal cavities of the bones.
- Bone Plate – Used to immobilise bones so that healing can occur
- Bone Screw – A threaded metal device which is inserted into bone.
- Cartilage - A nonvascular and firm connective tissue that covers the end of bone at a joint
- Centrum – The center of body of a vertebra.
- Collagen – Major protein of connective tissue, including skin, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and bones.
- Compression – Pressing or squeezing together
- Cortical Bone – Thin, superficial layer of bone
- Disc (Intervertebral) – Composed of a fibrosis outer ring called annulus fibrosus that surrounds a gel like substance called the nucleus pulposus. Lies in between two vertebrae
- Discectomy – Surgical removal of part or all of an intervertebral disc.
- Endoscope – An instrument used to view or manipulate internal body structures
- Endoscopy – Examination using endoscope
- Excision – Cutting out or surgically removing
- Foramen – Opening through bone
- Fusion – Joining together
- Herniated Disc – Protrusion of intervertebral disk with potential for nerve root compression.
- Kyphosis - Anteriorly concave curvature of the vertebral column
- Lamina - Portion of a vertebra
- Laminectomy - Excision of a vertebral lamina
- Lateral - Away from the midline of the body
- Ligament - Fibrous tissue connecting bones or cartilages
- Lumbar - Situated between the ribs and pelvis
- Nucleus Pulposus – Middle portion of the intervertebral disc
- Pedicle - Part of each side of the arch of the vertebra extending from the body to the lamina
- Resection - A surgical procedure with the aim to remove part of a structure
- Rod - Cylindric metal implant
- Sciatica - A term indicating radiating pain down the back of the thigh to the leg
- Scoliosis - lateral curvature of the spine
- Spondylitis – Inflammation of vertebrae.
- Spondylolisthesis – Forward movement of the body of one of the lower lumbar vertebrae
- Spondylolysis – Degeneration of a portion of the vertebra
- Tendon - connects muscle to bone
- Vertebra - A segment of the vertebral column. There are 33 vertebrae including: seven cervical, twelve thoracic, five lumbar, five sacral and four coccygeal