intervertebral disk
- noun
- /ˌɪntərˈvɜrtəbrəl dɪsk/
- Specialized
:
disco intervertebral
- An intervertebral disk herniation may compress nearby nerves, causing pain and numbness.
- intervertebral disk space
Examples
-
The fibrocartilaginous intervertebral disc lies between the body of one vertebra and another.
Academic text (2005) -
The intervertebral disk acts as a cushion to absorb shock between the vertebrae in the spine.
-
Contrast medium was injected directly into the intervertebral disc.
Academic text (2005) -
With aging, the intervertebral disc becomes denser with loss.
Academic text (2005) -
Persons with central axis pain and with peripheral manifestations in the buttocks or leg may have a disease affecting the intervertebral disc.
Academic text (1997) -
Contrast media outlines the spinal cord, the nerve root bundles, and the edges of the intervertebral disks.
Academic text (2006) -
The outer portion of the intervertebral disc, the annulus fibrosis, ruptures, leading to protrusion of the nucleus pulposus.
Academic text (2005) -
The commonest radiographic pattern was wedge collapse of the vertebral bodies and destruction of the intervertebral disc (63.3%).
Academic text (2007) -
Persons without a previous history of back surgery for prolapsed intervertebral disc showed greater resistance to fatigue as measured by the change in MF compared to those with surgery (P=0.008).
Academic text (1997) -
Damage to the intervertebral disk can lead to significant back pain and mobility issues.
How Damaged
- Specialized
- Specialized
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly compositional: 'intervertebral' = between vertebrae and 'disk' = a disc-shaped plate/cushion, so the compound denotes the disc located between vertebrae that provides cushioning. This is a literal medical compound following regular English compounding patterns (and similar constructions exist cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should be able to infer the meaning.
Etymology
Intervertebral disk, from the parts intervertebral and disk, names the soft pad that sits 'between' the small bones of the spine. It works like a tiny 'cushion' that stops the bones from rubbing or hitting each other, so the term means the soft pad that protects the spine.
