TENS Machine

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. TENS machines are small, battery- powered devices that emit low intensity, high frequency electrical pulses, usually through electrodes placed on the skin. These pulses stimulate the nerves below the skin, reducing the amount of information ( eg. pain ) being transmitted to the brain and the speed at which this happens. They are also thought to encourage the brain to produce higher amounts of the bodies natural painkillers - endorphins. TENS can relieve both acute and chronic pain. For back pain, it is usually used to relieve chronic pain. This is longer-lasting than acute pain and can remain after tissue damage has healed.

Thoracic

The region of the spine between the neck and the
lumbar vertebrae. The ribs connect with the 12 thoracic
vertebrae.

Traction

An old form of conservative treatment that attempts to
relieve pain by stretching the spine, in part or as a
whole. It can be done by hand or with a variety of
machines, some of which turn you upside down.

Transverse Process

The bony projection from the side of the vertebra to which the muscles are attached.

Ventral Nerve Root

That component of the nerve root which supplies the motor fibres from the spinal cord to the limb. It is on the ventral (anterior) aspect of the nerve root.

Vertebrae (plural)
Vertebra (single)

The 33 bones of the spine, 24 of which are single and jointed, the others fused.

Vertebral Body

The large block of bones separated from the adjacent vertebral body by the inter vertebral disc.

Vertebral Canal

Synonymous with the spinal cord.

Vertebral Endplates

The top and bottom of the vertebral body that comes
into contact with the disc.

Zypophyseal Joints

See facet joint.