C

cage

a hollow titanium cylinder or box that holds two vertebrae in place and carries bone graft material in its interior

carpal tunnel syndrome

a compression at the wist that causes a pinch of the median nerve affecting the thumb,second and third fingers of the hand

CAT Scan

Computer driven X-Ray system for producing three dimensional images

caudal

towards the lower end of the body

caudal epidural

injection into the epidural space placed through the sacrum

causalgia

a nerve based pain associated with nerve or bodily injury

central canal

the central portion of the vertebral coumn in which the spinal cord is found

central nervous system

the brain and spinal cord

cerebrospinal fluid

a clear fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord

cervical

associated with the neck

cervical spine

the vertebrae in the neck

cervical plate

a titanium device used to secure and hold a graft in the disc space after surgery

claudication

leg pain with walking due to either inadequate circulation in the legs or circumferential compression of the spinal canal

coccyx

lowest portion of the spine

contrast agent

an injected material that helps distinguish the appearance of two or more tissues during radiological imaging tests

cortical bone

the hard outer aspect of bone

cranial

towards the skull

cyst

abnormal enclosed fluid space within the body