Orthopaedics · Skeletal System · Medium
Discitis
Meaning: Infection or inflammation of an intervertebral disc space, causing severe localised back pain.
In practice: Fever and severe back pain after spinal surgery raised concern for discitis.
Word parts
- -itis means inflammation
Many medical words are built from Greek and Latin parts like these, so learning a few helps you work out new terms.
Quick check
Two questions on related orthopaedics words.
Which word means: Inflammation of the vertebrae, classically in an inflammatory arthritis causing back stiffness and eventual spinal fusion in young adults.
Answer: Spondylitis
Which word means: A pyramid-shaped carpal bone on the little-finger side of the wrist, lying beneath the pisiform.
Answer: Triquetrum
Words like discitis come up in the daily game
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