Webster's New World Medical Dictionary

split personality
See 
dissociation; dissocia-
tive disorder.
spondylitis
Inflammation of one or more of the
vertebrae of the spine. Diffuse inflammation of the
spine is seen, for example, in the disease ankylosing
spondylitis. Localized spondylitis is seen with infec-
tions of a certain area of the spine, such as in Pott’s
disease (tuberculosis of the spine).
spinal nerve
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spondylitis, ankylosing
See 
ankylosing
spondylitis.
spondylolisthesis
Forward movement of one
vertebra in relationship to an adjacent vertebra.
spondylolysis
The breaking down (dissolution)
of a portion of a vertebra. The affected portion of
the vertebra is a bone segment called the pars inter-
articularis, which can separate. Spondylolysis can
be a cause of abnormal movement of the spine
(spondylolisthesis) and lead to localized back pain.
spondylosis
Degeneration of the disc spaces
between the vertebrae. Spondylosis is common with
aging and affects virtually everyone to some degree
after the age of 60 years. When severe, it can cause
local pain and decreased range of motion of the
spine, requiring pain and/or anti-inflammatory
medications.
spongiform encephalopathy
One of a number of
progressive neurodegenerative disorders in animals
and humans caused by transmissible agents, called
prions, that produce spongiform changes in the brain.
Specific examples of transmissible spongiform
encephalopathies affecting humans include kuru,
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and variant Creutzfeldt-
Jakob disease (vCJD or “mad cow” disease).