Spine tumors may arise from any of the structures of the spine or the spinal column. They may arise in the cervical (neck), thoracic (mid-back) or lumbosacral (low back) regions.

A spinal tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue. The tumor’s cells may multiply slowly or very quickly.

For patients with degenerative spinal conditions, one cause of their back pain may be synovial cysts.

Spinal refers to the spine. Stenosis is a medical term used to describe a condition where a normal-size opening has become narrow.

This animation describes spinal stenosis, a condition in which degenerative changes in the spine lead to pain and weakness in the back and legs.

Technically, spondylosis is a form of arthritis—spinal osteoarthritis (osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis) to be exact.

The vertebral column (bones), the intervertebral discs, the dural sac (the covering around the spinal cord) or the space around the spinal cord may become infected in a number of circumstances.

Fusion is a surgical technique in which one or more of the vertebrae of the spine are united together (“fused”) so that motion no longer occurs between them.

A spinal fracture is when you break a bone in your spine—that's the basic definition.

Myelomeningocele, or spina bifida cystica, is a birth defect that occurs in the early weeks of fetal development.