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lumbar nerve

lumbar nerve

5.8
A nerve in the lower back that sends signals to the legs and belly
  • noun
  • /ˈlʌm.bər nɜrv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nervio lumbar
  • Pain radiating down the leg can sometimes be traced to a compressed lumbar nerve.

Examples

  • The surgeon was careful not to damage the lumbar nerve during the procedure.

  • The lumbar nerve plays a crucial role in leg movement.

  • Injuries to the lumbar nerves often result from car accidents or heavy lifting.

  • Many patients experience pain in their lumbar nerves.

  • The lumbar nerve is responsible for sending signals to the lower back and legs.

  • Damage to the lumbar nerve can result in pain and weakness in the lower limbs.

  • Doctors often assess the lumbar nerve to determine the cause of back pain.

How Big

spinal cord
  • Specialized
59 3.4
nerve
  • Specialized
367 3.5
lumbar nerve
  • Specialized
5.8
nerve fiber
  • Specialized
4 3.4
nerve ending
  • Specialized
9 4.1

Surface Forms

lumbar nerve singular
lumbar nerves plural

Morphology

lumbar + nerve

The compound simply combines 'lumbar' (relating to the lower back) with 'nerve' (a bundle of nerve fibers), so the meaning—nerves in the lumbar/lower-back region—is directly inferable from its parts. Although medical, the construction is literal and cross-linguistically regular, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would understand it.

Etymology

Lumbar nerve is a name for a 'nerve' in the lower back. The word lumbar comes from an old word for the 'lower back' and nerve is like a body 'wire' that 'sends messages'. So a lumbar nerve is a nerve that starts in the lower back and sends signals to the legs and belly.