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Sacrum
The bony structure at the base of the spine forming the back of the pelvic ring.
Scan
The examination of the body or part of the body using CT or MRI.
Schwannoma
A benign tumour of a nerve sheath. Usually sporadic, can be multiple. Similar to neurofibroma.
Sclerosis
Areas of scarring.
Secondaries
See metastases.
Secondary deposits
Seedlings of cancerous tumour separated from the original growth.
Secondary progressive MS
The type of MS which gradually worsens following a period of several years during which the pattern of the disease is one of relapses and remissions.
Read more information about MS (Multiple sclerosis)
Self-catheterisation
The technique by which a patient introduces a clean sterile tube into his or her bladder to allow the drainage of urine when the normal control of the bladder has been lost.
Sensory nerve
A nerve which carries information about sensation up to the spinal cord and brain.
Sensory perception
The ability to see, hear, taste, smell and feel temperature, pressure and pain.
Serotonin
A neuro-transmitter with a large number of different receptors.
Shingles (herpes zoster)
A disease in which the chicken pox virus, which has lain dormant in a small group of nerve cells for a long time, re-emerges to cause a rash in a part of the body.
Shunt
A device which is inserted to remove fluid from the brain or a tumour.
Side effect
A reaction or consequence of medication or treatment that is additional to the desired effect.
Small fibre testing
Testing of the small nerve fibres which cannot be examined effectively with standard nerve conduction studies.
Spasm
A sudden, involuntary contraction of one or more groups of muscles.
Spasticity
Stiffness of muscles and joints due to abnormalities in control at brain or spinal cord level.
SPECT scan
Single photon emission computed tomography scan - see PET
Speech therapist
A specialist in helping people with speech, language, communication and swallowing difficulties.
Read more information about speech, language and communication difficulties
Speech therapy
The rehabilitation of patients who are unable to speak clearly.
Read more information about speech, language and communication difficulties
Spinal canal
The space enclosed by bones in which the spinal cord and nerve roots lie.
Spinal column
The bony spine from skull base to pelvis, enclosing the spinal cord and nerve roots.
Spinal cord
The main nerve trunk of the body that runs from the brain downwards towards the lower part of the back inside a tunnel of bones in the backbone called the vertebral column.
Spinal nerve
As a nerve root exits from the spinal canal it is sometimes referred to as a spinal nerve, up to the point, outside the spine, where it divides into its various branches.
Spine
The structure from skull base to pelvis comprising bones, spinal cord and nerve roots with enclosing membranes.
Spondyl-
A prefix from which a number of other terms are derived. It means the same as vertebra. Spondylitis Strictly speaking, this term means inflammation of one of the vertebrae, but it is commonly misused as a synonym for spondylosis.
Spondylolisthesis
A condition where one vertebra has slipped forwards or backwards in relation to the vertebra next to it. It is a significant form of instability of the
spine.
Spondylolysis
A condition where there is a defect in part of a vertebra. This makes an individual more likelyto develop spinal instability and may lead on to development of spondylolisthesis.
Sporadic
Isolated, infrequent or unconnected cases of a condition.
Stent insertion
A stent is a metal tube which is placed in a narrowed artery to keep it open.
Stereotactic biopsy
A surgical procedure guided by scans and a frame.
Stereotactic focal irradiation
Radiotherapy directed at tissue by finely targeted beams using scans and a frame.
Stereotaxic surgery
Brain operations that are carried out using delicate instruments through a small hole in the scull. The position for the operation is very precisely located using a metal frame attached to the head and guided by CT scanning.
Steroids
A group of hormones occurring naturally in the body and medications based on them.
Striatum
An area within the basal ganglia of the brain.
Strobe light
A flashing beam of very bright light.
Stroke
A sudden and permanent loss of brain function, usually due to either blockage of the blood supply to part of the brain or a sudden leakage of blood into the brain itself.
Read more information about stroke
Stroke unit
This refers to a special ward or area of the hospital where stroke patients are cared for.
Read more information about stroke
Sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
A sudden leakage of blood into the fluid surrounding the brain.
- Read more information about sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
- Read about recovering from a sub-arachnoid haemorrhage
Subdural strip monitoring
This procedure is only carried out in special cases and involves applying EEG electrodes to the surface of the brain after drilling four small holes in the skull while the person is under general anaesthetic.
Substantia nigra
Dopamineproducing cells within the midbrain.
Sural nerve
A sensory nerve in the leg, which can be stimulated at the back of the calf for nerve conduction studies.
Symptomatic
A patient is symptomatic if he or she experiences symptoms. A condition becomes symptomatic when it starts to produce symptoms, even though the condition itself may have been present for some time beforehand.
Symptoms
The sensations or feelings reported by patients which tell them that something is wrong - as opposed to signs, which are things the doctor observes. Dizziness is a symptom.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
This is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system, for unknown reasons, attacks the connective tissue as if it were foreign, causing inflammation.
