spinal
gb/spˈaɪnəl/ us/spˈaɪnəl/
B2
English
~ 7400
Senses
0 senses
adjective
technical
B2
property
1
relating to the spine
About the bones in your back (the spine) or the nerves inside them (the spinal cord).
Usage pattern:
spinal [noun]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *spinal* as a noun and say things like "I hurt my spinal." Use *spine* as the noun ("I hurt my spine") and *spinal* only before nouns ("spinal injury," "spinal pain"). Another confusion is using *back* instead of *spinal*: *back pain* is general, while *spinal pain* sounds more medical and specific to the spine.
Synonyms
vertebral (More formal and mainly used in technical or anatomical contexts instead of general medical or news language.)
Antonyms
cranial (Describes things related to the skull or brain rather than the spine.)
Collocations
spinal cord
|spinal column
|spinal injury
|spinal surgery
|spinal fluid
|spinal fusion
Themes
health
|medicine
|body
Examples
- He was left paralyzed after suffering a severe spinal injury in the crash.
- The virus can cause inflammation of the spinal cord and lead to long-term problems.
- She needed spinal surgery to relieve pressure on a nerve in her lower back.
- Doctors examined the MRI scans for signs of spinal damage.
- Spinal fluid was taken for testing to check for infection.
Learner examples
- He has a spinal problem and cannot walk well.
- The doctor said there was a small spinal fracture.
- She is going to have spinal surgery next week.
- Spinal nerves carry messages from the brain to the body.
- The test showed no spinal damage.
Noun
technical
C1
action
2
spinal anesthetic injection
A medical injection in the lower back that makes the lower part of the body feel no pain during an operation or birth.
Usage pattern:
to give [someone] a spinal
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that *a spinal* on its own usually means *a spinal anesthetic* in hospital contexts, not simply "something to do with the spine." Outside medical settings, use the adjective *spinal* plus a noun: *spinal injury*, *spinal problem*, not *a spinal*.
Synonyms
spinal anesthetic (More explicit and slightly more formal; often used in full form in medical explanations.)
Antonyms
general anesthetic (Describes anesthesia that makes a patient unconscious, unlike a spinal, which usually keeps the patient awake but without pain below the waist.)
Collocations
have a spinal
|give a spinal
|under a spinal
|spinal versus general anesthesia
Themes
health
|medicine
|hospital
|body
Examples
- The doctor recommended a spinal instead of a general anesthetic for the cesarean section.
- Because of her heart condition, the surgeons decided to use a spinal rather than putting her fully to sleep.
- After the spinal wore off, she slowly started to feel her legs again.
- He was nervous about having a spinal, but the procedure was quick and almost painless.
- Patients are closely monitored after a spinal to watch for headaches or changes in blood pressure.
Learner examples
- She had a spinal for the birth of her baby.
- The doctor will give you a spinal so you do not feel pain.
- He chose a spinal instead of a general anesthetic.
- After the spinal, he could not move his legs for a few hours.
- The nurse explained that the spinal might cause a headache later.
Grammar
Dictionary form
spinal
IPA
GB/spˈaɪnəl/
US/spˈaɪnəl/
Syllables & stress
spin - al (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (spin)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: spinal
Noun
- Base: spinal
- Plural: spinals
Word family
Forms
spinals
noun
Core family
spine
noun B1
Related words
spiny
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
spineless
adjective
Advanced or less common
spinous
adjective
Expressions
spinal anesthesia
1/spˈaɪnəl ˌænɪsθˈiziʌ/
fixed phrase
technical
anesthesia by spinal injection
A way to stop pain in the lower body by putting medicine into the fluid around the spinal cord.
Examples
- The operation was carried out under spinal anesthesia.
- Spinal anesthesia allows the patient to stay awake during the procedure.
- The doctor explained the risks and benefits of spinal anesthesia.
spinal column
1/spˈaɪnəl kˈɑləm/
fixed phrase
technical
the bones of the spine
All the small bones in your back that are joined together to make your spine.
Examples
- X-rays showed several fractures in his spinal column.
- Poor posture can put stress on the spinal column over time.
- The surgeon inserted metal rods to stabilize her spinal column.
spinal injury
1/spˈaɪnəl ˈɪnd͡ʒɚi/
fixed phrase
technical
damage to spine or cord
Serious damage to the spine or the spinal cord, often affecting movement.
Examples
- He was treated for a suspected spinal injury after the fall.
- Spinal injuries can lead to loss of feeling in the legs.
- Wearing a seat belt reduces the risk of spinal injury.
spinal surgery
1/spˈaɪnəl sˈɚd͡ʒɚi/
fixed phrase
technical
surgery on the spine
An operation on the bones in the back or the nerves inside them.
Examples
- He underwent spinal surgery after the car accident.
- Spinal surgery is considered only when other treatments fail.
- She traveled to a specialist center for complex spinal surgery.
spinal tap
1/spˈaɪnəl tˈæp/
fixed phrase
technical
procedure to take spinal fluid
A medical test where a doctor uses a needle in the lower back to take some spinal fluid.
Examples
- The neurologist ordered a spinal tap to check for meningitis.
- She was worried about having a spinal tap, but it was over quickly.
- A spinal tap can help diagnose infections and other brain diseases.
spinal cord
1/spˈaɪnəl kˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
nerve bundle inside the spine
The long group of nerves inside your backbone that carries messages between your brain and body.
Examples
- A serious injury to the spinal cord can cause permanent paralysis.
- The disease affects the spinal cord and slowly weakens the muscles.
- Researchers are studying new treatments for spinal cord damage.
spinal cord
2/spˈaɪnəl kˈɔɹd/
fixed phrase
technical
bundle of nerves in spine
The long group of nerves inside the spine that carries messages between the brain and the body.
Examples
- Damage to the spinal cord can result in permanent paralysis.
- The virus attacks the spinal cord and can cause serious disability.
- He works in a unit that treats spinal cord injuries.
spinal fluid
1/spˈaɪnəl flˈuɪd/
fixed phrase
Liquid around brain and spine
The clear liquid around the brain and spinal cord.
Examples
- They took a sample of spinal fluid to test for infection.
- The disease can be detected in the spinal fluid.
- Pressure in the spinal fluid was higher than normal.
spinal fluid
2/spˈaɪnəl flˈuɪd/
fixed phrase
technical
fluid around brain and spine
The clear liquid around the brain and spinal cord that protects them.
Examples
- They tested her spinal fluid for signs of infection.
- A leak of spinal fluid can cause severe headaches.
- The sample of spinal fluid showed no cancer cells.
spinal fusion
1/spˈaɪnəl fjˈuʒən/
fixed phrase
technical
surgery joining spine bones
An operation where two or more bones in the spine are joined together so they do not move.
Examples
- She had spinal fusion after the accident to stabilize her neck.
- She had a spinal fusion to correct her scoliosis.
- The doctor explained the risks and benefits of spinal fusion.
- Recovery from spinal fusion can take several months.
- The surgeon recommended spinal fusion to stabilize the damaged area.