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Affixes

spondyl(o)-

A vertebra.

Latin spondylus, vertebra, from Greek spondulos.

Spondylitis is inflammation of the joints of the backbone (ankylosing spondylitis is a form of spinal arthritis); spondylosis is a painful condition of the spine resulting from the degeneration of the discs in the joints between the vertebrae; spondylolisthesis (Greek olisthēsis, slipping) is the forward displacement of a vertebra relative to the one below it; spondylosyndesis (Greek syn‑, together, plus desis, binding) is the fusion of the joints between the vertebrae by surgery; a spondylopathy (Greek patheia, suffering, feeling), refers in general to a disorder of the spine.