Dr. Scott F. Gillman - Family & Sports Chiropractic

Glossary of Chiropractic &
Medical Terms

CALIBRATION: The periodic adjustment/maintenance of the instrument's components in contrast to a gold standard in order to yield minimum variation of measurements over a specified range of measurement.

CANCELLOUS BONE - The spongy or honeycomb structure of some bone tissue typically found at the ends of long bones.

CARCINOMA - Cancer; a malignant growth of epithelial or gland cells.

CAROTID ARTERY - Large artery on either side of the neck that supplies most of the cerebral hemisphere.

CAROTID SINUS - Slight dilatation on the common carotid artery at its bifurcation containing nerve cells sensitive to blood pressure. Stimulation can cause slowing of the heart, vasodilatation, and a fall in blood pressure.

CARPAL TUNNEL – the space formed by the arched array of wrist bones (carpals) on one side (dorsal) and the ligament sheath that connects across them on the other side (ventral) through which the wrist and finger flexor tendons and the median nerve enters the palm of the hand.

CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME - A condition caused by compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. Characterized especially by pain, tingling, numbness, or other disturbances of sensation in the middle portion of the hand and fingers.

CARTILAGE – A type of body tissue, as opposed to bone or muscle, that is of two basic types, Hyaline or Fibrous. Most articular cartilage is the Hyaline-II type. Fibrous cartilage is what comprises our intervertebral disc, or the meniscus of the knee.

CASE MANAGEMENT: A collaborative process of assessment planning, implementation, coordination, monitoring and evaluation of professional services with respect to an individual's health care in order to promote quality and cost-effectiveness of care.

CAUDA EQUINA - The bundle of spinal nerve roots rising from the end of the spinal cord and filling the lower part of the spinal canal (from approximately the thoraco-lumbar junction down).

CAVITATION – The " POP" that occurs in a joint when the bony articulation surfaces are separated. This creates a vacuum that puts carbon dioxide gas out of the fluid from within the joint, and causes and exchange of this gas with fluid from the outside of the joint. The exchange of gas and fluid makes a pop. Any joint that is pulled, yanked, stretched, sloshed around can cavitate. Joints that are fixated, and adjusted by a chiropractic joint manipulation, will also cavitate. Therefore, cavitation alone does not constitute an adjustment. If this were so, one could adjust oneself and there would be no need for chiropractors.

CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM (CNS) - Part of the nervous system which consists of the brain and spinal cord. Sensory impulses are transmitted to the CNS motor impulses are sent out. Once the CNS nerves exit the skull or vertebrae of the spine, they are considered part of the periferal nervous system PNS. The CNS supervises and coordinates most of the activity of the entire nervous system, while the PNS provides for reflexes and the speeding-up or slowing-down of our organs (see autonomic nervous system).

CEREBELLUM - The primitive lower part of the brain, above the brain stem, which regulates unconscious coordination of movement.

CEREBRAL - Relating to the cerebrum of the brain, or its intellectual functions.

CEREBRAL CORTEX - Surface layer of gray matter of the brain that functions chiefly in coordination of higher nervous activity, e.g. speech, volition;

CEREBRAL PALSY - Disability resulting from damage to the brain before or during birth and outwardly manifested by muscular incoordination and speech disturbances.

CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) - Water-like fluid produced in the brain that circulates around and protects the brain and spinal cord. Shrinking or expanding of the cranial contents is usually quickly balanced by increase or decrease of this fluid.

CEREBRUM - The principal portion of the brain that occupies the major portion of the interior of the skull and controls conscious movement, sensation, and thought.

CERVICAL - Of or relating to the neck, e.g. cervical spine.

CHEMONUCLEOLYSIS - A treatment of an intervertebral disc that consists of an injection of chymopapain, a drug that dissolves part of the disc.

CHIASM (OPTIC) - Crossing of visual fibers as they head toward the opposite side of the brain. For each optic nerve, most of the visual fibers cross to the opposite side, some run directly backward on each side without crossing.