JONES LAW GROUPYour Lawyers for Life! Personal Injury Law Firm in St. Petersburg
By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury This is Part IV of VI in my Personal Injury Medical Terms Glossary. This is the final part in the portion of this glossary which relates to the spine and common injuries which occur as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle […]
Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
At Jones Law Group in St. Petersburg, FL, we would like to hear from you. Contact us for a free personal injury case consultation.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
Get educated on the Florida's personal injury laws and more.
By: Heath C. Murphy + – Personal Injury
This is Part IV of VI in my Personal Injury Medical Terms Glossary. This is the final part in the portion of this glossary which relates to the spine and common injuries which occur as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident. Tomorrow, I will begin a two part series which will attempt to create a glossary of terms related to traumatic brain injuries.
If you read yesterday’s blog you can skip this paragraph, but it might be helpful to understanding some of the definitions included in this segment of the glossary. Prior to providing a list of specific medical terms, I am going to attempt to provide an easy to digest overview of the back. Your spinal column consists of 31 vertebrae which are bones stacked upon one another which house and protect the spinal canal. The individual vertebrae in the vertebral column are separated by discs. The discs in your spine allow for movement and act as shock absorbers. Each disc is made up of a center portion of a gel like material which is surrounded fibrous material that keeps the gel in place. Think of a jelly doughnut. The jelly is the nucleus and the surrounding doughnut is the annulus. If the doughnut is compressed the jelly will move to the edges and out of the center where it belongs.
Sacral Spinal Cord Injury
The sacral area of the spine is located bottom of the spinal column in the hip area. It may be noted by the shorthand S1-S5 which describes each vertebra in the sacral region. Spinal cord injuries occur when the bones protecting the spinal cord are damaged causing the spinal cord to be damaged. Injuries to the sacral area of the spinal cord typically cause incontinence issues and sexual dysfunction.
Sacrum
The sacrum is a large, triangular bone located at the base of spine and lies between the fifth segment of the lumbar spine and the tailbone. From a functional standpoint, the sacrum connects the hip bones to the spine.
Sciatica
Sciatica is a term that describes pain and/or numbness which originates in the lower back and radiates down the leg(s). Sciatica is not a medical diagnosis, but is instead a symptom of an underlying medical condition such as a herniated disc or spinal stenosis. Sciatica can be caused by a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident.
Spinal Canal
The spine, otherwise referred to as your backbone, is a column of vertebral bones stacked upon one another separated by discs. Each vertebra has a hole in its center which lines up with the vertebra above and below. The spinal canal is the opening in the vertebrae through which the spinal cord runs.
Spinal Cord
The spinal cord is long bundle of nerves that extends from the brainstem to the lumbar region of the back. Essentially, the spinal cord transmits messages from the brain to the rest of your body. The spinal cord also has neural circuits that can independently control numerous reflexes.
Spinal Cord Injury
Spinal cord injuries occur when the bones protecting the spinal cord are damaged causing the spinal cord to be damaged. Spinal cord injuries are classified as complete or incomplete. An incomplete spinal cord injury means that some of the ability to transmit messages is still possible. There still may be some ability to move or perceive sensations below the point of injury in an incomplete spinal injury.
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spaces in the spine which can cause pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. When one vertebra slips forward onto another it can narrow the spinal canal. Other injuries associated with accidents also can cause spinal stenosis such as dislocation of the spine or burst fractures which actually send bone fragments into the spinal canal.
Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury
The thoracic area of the spine is located in the center of the spine and extends from the base of the neck down to the end of the rib cage. It may be noted by the shorthand T1-C12 which describes each vertebra in the thoracic region. Spinal cord injuries occur when the bones protecting the spinal cord are damaged causing the spinal cord to be damaged. Injuries to the thoracic area of the spinal cord may cause complete paralysis beginning at the location of the injury extending down. Many times this injury results in paraplegia.
Vertebra
Vertebrae are the bones which comprise the backbone. The vertebra are complex structures each consisting of bone and cartilage. There is a hole in each vertebra that forms the spinal column and houses the spinal cord.
Whiplash
Whiplash is a non-medical term that is given to an injury which is very common in rear end car accidents. The name is derived from the manner in which the head snaps back then forward and back again causing injury to the neck and middle of the spine. Often times the pain associated with whiplash does manifest itself until several days after the accident. The medical term for whiplash is cervical acceleration-deceleration (CAD).
Jones Law Group
Have you or a loved one been injured in an accident? Contact an experienced St. Petersburg personal injury law firm today. When you contact our office we will immediately set an appointment where you will meet your attorney and be provided with his/her personal contact information. If you do not have transportation or you cannot drive, your attorney will travel to meet you and discuss your case with you.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a slip and fall, a car accident, a motorcycle accident, a bicycle accident or a pedestrian accident, you should immediately call an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Petersburg at Jones Law Group at (727) 571-1333 during regular business hours or (727) 753-8657 on weekends or after regular business hours. We will evaluate your case for free and you will never pay us a dime unless we recover compensation for your injuries.
Jones Law Group
5622 Central Avenue
St. Pete, FL 33707
If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, you know exactly how exhilarating – and just plain fun – it is to ride. There’s just something about it that’s hard to explain to those who don’t. It’s even better when you ride with friends. The sense of camaraderie can’t be topped. Unfortunately, far too many motorcyclists are injured […]
Motorcycle accidents are incredibly common, not only in Florida but the rest of the United States. The vast majority of riders follow all rules of the road, are courteous towards other motorists, and do everything they can to try to avoid being in an accident. But they still have to deal with the ridiculous reality […]
A serious spinal cord injury can require expensive medical treatment, lead to lost wages, and impact your life greatly. You deserve to be compensated fairly for these damages and more. Just about any kind of accident can result in a serious spinal cord injury. It could be the result of a car accident or a […]
There’s no single “average” Florida slip and fall settlement. Cases range from $10,000 for soft tissue injuries to seven figures for surgical fusions and TBIs. What actually decides the number is a stack of specific factors: injury severity, surgery, the notice rule under § 768.0755, HB 837’s 51% bar on comparative fault, and insurance policy limits. This 2026 guide walks through real settlement ranges, what moves a case from the low end to the high end, and the first 48 hours of evidence that matter most.
Nearly 25 million people have to visit emergency rooms in the U.S. each year. A major contributing factor is personal injury accidents. When someone’s negligence causes another to suffer, the victim should be able to obtain the compensation they deserve from the negligent party’s insurance company. But dealing with an insurance claim can be challenging, […]
While Florida is a perfect place to take a long road trip, it can also be dangerous. Our highways are oftentimes the scenes of horrific accidents that can result in devastating injuries. The last thing you’ll want to have to deal with is a wreck that can ruin your great time. That’s why we’re providing […]
Speak with us before time runs out! In Florida, you have a limited window to file a personal injury case, so speak to an Attorney today.
Call our personal injury law office directly at (727) 512-9847
Jones Law Group is a dedicated personal injury lawyer in St. Petersburg, FL, serving the Tampa Bay area since 2006. Our experienced attorneys specialize in car accidents, slip and fall cases, employment law disputes, construction law issues, and overtime wage claims, fighting for maximum compensation on a contingency fee basis. Contact us for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Call our personal injury law office at (727) 512-9847
© Copyright 2006–2025 Jones Law Group Attorneys at Law. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy Terms of Use
Attorney Advertising.
The information on this website is for general information purposes only. Nothing on this site should be taken as legal advice for any individual case or situation. This information is not intended to create, and receipt or viewing does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. Past results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
See the things you NEED TO DO after your accident. Get the 5 to-do's sent directly to your email.
