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Glite Dictionary
ruptured intervertebral disc

ruptured intervertebral disc

6.5
A tear in the soft part between the bones of the spine that presses on nerves and causes back pain
  • noun
  • /ˈrʌptʃərd ˌɪntərˈvɜrtəbrəl dɪsk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : disco intervertebral roto
  • A ruptured intervertebral disc can cause numbness or weakness in the legs if it presses on the nerves.

Examples

  • He was diagnosed with a ruptured intervertebral disc after experiencing severe lower back pain.

  • He was diagnosed with a ruptured intervertebral disc last week.

  • After surgery for his ruptured intervertebral disc, she was finally able to walk without discomfort.

  • A ruptured intervertebral disc can cause severe pain.

  • He was diagnosed with a ruptured intervertebral disc after experiencing severe lower back pain.

  • A ruptured intervertebral disc can cause numbness or weakness in the legs if it presses on the nerves.

  • After surgery for his ruptured intervertebral disc, he was finally able to walk without discomfort.

Synonyms

herniated disc
vsruptured intervertebral disc
  • UK
4 5.1

Soft part of a disc in the spine pushes out and presses on nerves, causing back pain

describes a tear of the cushion between vertebrae causing back pain and nerve problems
slipped disc
vsruptured intervertebral disc
  • Specialized
1 4.0

A disc between the bones of the spine that moves out of place and often causes lower back pain

focuses on a tear causing nerve problems rather than displacement of the cushion

Antonyms

intact
304 3.7

Whole and not damaged or missing any parts

How Severe

ruptured intervertebral disc
  • Specialized
6.5
herniated disc
  • UK
4 5.1
bulging
2 3.6

Surface Forms

ruptured intervertebral disc singular
ruptured intervertebral discs plural

Morphology

rupture + intervertebral + disk

The phrase is fully compositional: 'ruptured' means torn or burst, 'intervertebral' specifies between vertebrae, and 'disc' refers to the spinal disc, so a learner who knows those words can infer a disc between vertebrae that has torn. This follows regular English noun-modifier composition and is similar across many languages, making the meaning predictable to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.

Etymology

Ruptured intervertebral disc comes from the image of the soft disc between the bones of the spine tearing like a jelly doughnut. When the disc's soft center leaks and 'presses on nerves', it causes 'back pain' and weakness, so the phrase means a disc that has torn and is causing pain.