Glossary

Anterior

Ventral, or front.

 

Arachnoid mater

Meningeal layer between pia mater and dura mater, surrounds brain and spinal cord.

 

Cervical

Referring to uppermost section of spine, in neck region.

 

Chiari malformation

Congenital malformation in which the bottom of the brain (cerebellum) is crowded in the skull cavity, and forces the lower tips of the cerebellar hemispheres (tonsils) into the hole in the bottom of the skull (foramen magnum). Cerebellar tonsils may also be low in patients with spinal CSF leak. 

 

Craniotomy

Surgical removal of a section of bone from the skull (cranium) for the purpose of operating on the underlying tissues, usually the brain.

 

CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid around the brain (cerebrum) and spine.

 

CSF-venous fistula

An abnormal channel between the spinal subarachnoid space and epidural veins, causing cerebrospinal fluid to be circulated into the bloodstream instead of contained within the boundaries of the dura mater.

 

CT

Computed tomography (a type of X-ray imaging).

 

CTA

Computed tomography angiogram (CT imaging to visualize arteries).

 

CTV

Computed tomography venogram (CT imaging to visualize veins).

 

CTM

CT myelogram. Computed tomographic myelogram.

 

DSM

Digital subtraction myelogram.

 

Dura mater

Literally, “tough mother.” Also referred to as the dura. The outermost layer of meninges or connective tissue layers that surround brain and spinal cord.

 

EBP

Epidural blood patch, an injection of blood into the epidural space.

 

Elliotts B solution

Solution comparable in pH, electrolyte composition, glucose content, and osmolarity to cerebrospinal fluid.

 

Epidural space

Space outside (epi) the dura within the spinal canal.

 

ESI

Epidural steroid injection, an injection of steroid into epidural space. (Inadvertent dural puncture may occur.)

 

Etiology

The cause of a disease or condition.

 

Fibrin glue

Fibrin sealant, a surgical sealant derived from pooled human blood and bovine blood.

 

Fluoroscopy

X-ray imaging in real time, used for procedures.

 

Gadolinium

Contrast agent commonly used in magnetic resonance imaging.

 

Iatrogenic

Inadvertent illness as the result of medical treatment or diagnostic test.

 

ICP

Intracranial pressure, pressure inside the head (cranium).

 

Intracranial hypertension

High (hyper) pressure inside the head (cranium).

 

Intracranial hypotension

Low (hypo) pressure inside the head (cranium).

 

Intrathecal space

Also called subarachnoid space, the space under arachnoid layer of meninges, around brain and spinal cord, which contains CSF.

 

Laminectomy

Surgical removal of all or a portion of the lamina section of a vertebral bone.

 

LP

Lumbar puncture.

 

LP shunt

Lumbar-peritoneal shunt. A catheter that diverts CSF from the lumbar region of the spine to the abdominal cavity (peritoneal space), usually with a valve-like device.

 

Lumbar

Referring to lower section of spine, lower back region.

 

Meningitis

Inflammation of meninges (may be chemical or infectious).

 

MRA

Magnetic resonance angiogram (MR imaging of arteries).

 

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging.

 

MRM

Magnetic resonance myelogram (MR imaging of spine and spinal canal).

 

MRV

Magnetic resonance venogram (MR imaging of veins).

 

Myelogram

Spinal imaging that involves the injection of contrast into the intrathecal space. (Exception: MR myelography can be done with or without intrathecal contrast injection.)

 

Neurologist

Medical specialist in diseases of brain, spinal cord, and nerves.

 

Neuropathy

Peripheral nerve damage to sensory, motor, or autonomic nerves that results in symptoms such as numbness, tingling, pain, and weakness. There are many causes, including compression, injury, metabolic causes (like diabetes), toxins, drugs, and nutritional deficiencies.

 

Neuroradiologist

Medical specialist in neurologic radiology (imaging).

 

Neurosurgeon

Surgical specialist in diseases of brain and spine.

 

OP

Opening pressure. The measurement of CSF pressure at time of lumbar puncture.

 

Orthostatic

Relating to or caused by upright posture.

 

Papilledema

Swelling of the optic disc, visible on ophthalmoscopic examination of the eye, caused by increased intracranial pressure.

 

Pia mater

Literally, “tender mother.” The innermost meningeal layer surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

 

Perineural cyst

Cerebrospinal fluid–filled cyst of a nerve root sleeve along the spine.

 

Phonophobia

Sensitivity to sound.

 

Photophobia

Sensitivity to light.

 

Pituitary hyperemia

When the pituitary gland in head is engorged with fluid.

 

Posterior

Dorsal, or back.

 

POTS

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. A type of autonomic dysfunction recognized by increased heart rate upon assuming upright posture.

 

Prone

Face-down, horizontal position.

 

Radicular

Pertaining to a nerve root distribution.

 

Radiculopathy

Compression or irritation of a nerve root which results in symptoms of numbness, pain, and/or weakness.

 

Sacral

Referring to the lowest section of spine, in the pelvic region, below lumbar section.

 

Sacrum

Referring to the five fused sacral vertebrae below the lumbar region.

 

Scoliosis

Abnormal curvature of the spine.

 

SIH

Spontaneous intracranial hypotension. Spontaneous low (hypo) pressure inside (intra) the head (cranium).

 

Subarachnoid space

Intrathecal space. The space under arachnoid layer of meninges, around brain and spinal cord, which contains CSF.

 

Supine

Face-up, horizontal position.

 

Syringomyelia

Disorder involving a fluid-filled cavity within the spinal cord.

 

Tarlov cyst

Perineural cyst occuring most often in the sacral region of the spine.

 

Thecal sac

Dural sac containing CSF and spinal cord.

 

Thoracic

Section of spine in upper back region.

 

Trendelenburg position

Supine (lying face upward) with feet higher than head.

 

Valsalva maneuver

Forced effort to exhale with closed airway (either closed glottis or closed mouth and nose), which results in increased venous pressure in the chest and spine and increased intracranial pressure.

 

Vertebra

Individual bone of the spine or vertebral column.

 

VP shunt

Ventriculoperitoneal shunt. A catheter that drains CSF from the lateral ventricle of the brain to the abdominal cavity (peritoneal space), usually with a valve-like device.