Also 6–7 spinall. [ad. late L. spīnālis, f. spīna SPINE sb.1 So F. spinal, It. spinale, Sp. espinal.]
1. Of or pertaining to, forming part of, or located in, the spine or backbone: a. In spinal marrow or cord.
(a) 1578. Banister, Hist. Man, I. 6. Cerebellum … lyeth vnder the brayne, and the spinall marey thence slydeth from the head.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 875. Some Nerues … doe arise from the brayne,… others from the Spinall marrow.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 189. The spinall marrow, which is but the braine prolonged.
1767. Gooch, Treat. Wounds, I. 341. Wounds in any part of the spinal-marrow require no peculiar treatment.
1830. Herschel, Study Nat. Phil., 87. The seat of the exertion … is demonstrably … either in the brain or in the spinal marrow.
1881. Mivart, Cat, 15. If the skull and backbone be cut through, the white substance of the brain and spinal marrow will be found within them.
(b) 1836. Penny Cycl., V. 330/1. A long cord of nervous matter filling the cavity of the vertebral or spinal column, called the spinal cord.
1851. Carpenter, Man. Phys. (ed. 2), 417. Convulsive actions, which are dependent upon the medulla oblongata and spinal cord, may continue for a minute or two longer.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VI. 478. [Certain cases] were confused by him with cases of spinal cord origin.
b. With other sbs., as artery, bone, canal, etc.
1725. Pope, Odyss., X. 668. Full endlong from the roof the sleeper fell, And snapped the spinal joint and waked in hell.
1726. Monro, Anat., 181. That Protuberance … is called the Spinal Process, from which this whole Series of Bones has got its Name.
1760–72. H. Brooke, Fool of Qual. (1809), III. 99. Thrusting the stake through his body, which they run up withinside the spinal bone, and so out at the back of his neck, in order to avoid his bowels and keep him the longer in anguish.
1771. Encycl. Brit., I. 219. [It] is fixed … to the last spinal apophysis of the back. Ibid. (c. 1793), (1797), I. 759. A thin transparent substance, which from its indentations between the spinal nerves has obtained the name of ligamentum denticulatum.
1799. Med. Jrnl., II. 461. The spinal artery … had been noticed by Berengar, as a white shining line.
1826. Kirby & Sp., Entomol., xxxvii. IV. 18. Those remarkable nerves described by Lyonnet under the name of spinal bridle (bride épinière).
1845. Budd, Dis. Liver, 360. They [hydatid tumors] have been met with, but in comparatively very few instances,… in the spinal canal.
1881. Mivart, Cat, 275. The Eleventh, or Spinal Accessory Nerve…, is a comparatively insignificant one.
c. absol. With ellipse of artery or nerve.
1888. W. R. Gowers, Man. Dis. Nervous System, II. 406. It usually supplies the ‘bulbar’ nuclei,… in part directly, and in part by the anterior spinal.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 33. If all are not directly innervated by the spinal accessory, division … may not be completely successful.
2. (See quot.) rare–1.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., 203. All spinall [fishes], or such as have no ribs, but only a back bone, or somewhat analogous thereto, as Eeles, Congers, Lampries.
3. Of diseased conditions: Affecting the spine.
1838. Dickens, Nickleby, xxx. Letters inflicted with every possible variation of spinal deformity.
1878. A. M. Hamilton, Nerv. Dis., 219. Spinal hemorrhage is usually the result of a traumatism.
1878. R. Braithwaite, Life & Lett. W. Pennefather, ii. 22. The memoranda … tell of such … suffering and debility, from spinal irritation.
Comb. 1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2268/1. Spinal-Distortion Apparatus, an apparatus designed to gradually restore the spine to its normal condition when it has become curved.
4. Resembling a spine or backbone in form or function.
1841. Florist Jrnl. (1846), II. 301. There may be rain on the central, or spinal, mountains and hills.
1856. Kane, Arct. Expl., I. xxiii. 301. Everywhere else the spinal ridge seemed unbroken.
1903. Westm. Gaz., 20 May, 12/1. If water does not fall on his acres, he will bring it to them from his long spinal mountain range if necessary.
5. Of qualities: Arising from, seated in, the spine. Also fig.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., I. ii. § 18. The permanent tension of the muscle is in part due to spinal influence.
1890. Pall Mall Gaz., 5 Sept., 1/2. The news will give a spice to sport, a spinal strength to the desultory conversation of the rambler.
6. Of appliances: Adapted to, intended for, application to the spine.
1864–8. J. Chapman (title-p.), Sea-Sickness and How to Prevent it:… by Means of the Spinal Ice-Bag.
1875. Knight, Dict. Mech., 2268/1. Spinal Brace,… a brace for remedying posterior curvature of the spine.
1895. Arnold & Sons’ Catal. Surg. Instrum., 782. Spinal Support,… for double lateral curvature.
7. Comb., as spinal-depressant, -stimulant.
1874. Garrod & Baxter, Mat. Med., 263. Commercial conia was found to exhibit spinal-stimulant and spinal-depressant actions.
Hence Spinally adv.
1885. Meredith, Diana, II. viii. 191. Spinally prepared … to repay dignity of mien with a similar erectness of dignity.
