What does myelitis mean?
Myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord, a condition that may follow an infection, accompany an autoimmune disorder, or develop after injury or another medical event. The term is especially common in the expression transverse myelitis, which describes inflammation affecting part of the spinal cord across its width and often causing sudden weakness, altered sensation, pain, and disturbances of bladder or bowel control. Doctors may also specify the course or cause, as in acute, viral, or postinfectious myelitis. Diagnosis generally combines neurological examination, imaging of the spine, and laboratory tests intended to exclude infection and other causes of similar symptoms. Myelitis is distinct from myelopathy, which is a broader term covering any disorder of the spinal cord, not only inflammation. Although it can cause serious and sometimes disabling symptoms, its course and outlook depend on its cause and extent.
nounInflammation of the spinal cord. It can result from infection, autoimmune disease, injury, or other causes and may produce weakness, sensory changes, and impaired bladder or bowel function.
- Inflammation of the spinal cord, especially when associated with neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, pain, or impaired autonomic function.
"Her sudden weakness and loss of sensation were eventually diagnosed as transverse myelitis."
"The scan and laboratory results supported a diagnosis of myelitis."
"Inflammatory myelitis can occasionally follow a viral infection."
The plural is rarely needed but follows the regular formation of Greek medical nouns ending in -itis.
"Two cases of myelitis were reported during the outbreak."
Myelitis joins the Greek word for marrow to the medical suffix meaning inflammation—an apt reminder that the spinal cord was long understood as the body's internal marrow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does myelitis come from?
The word comes from Greek myelos, meaning “marrow,” combined with the suffix -itis, meaning inflammation. In medical terminology, it was adopted for inflammation of the spinal cord. The same Greek root also underlies related terms such as myelin, myelopathy, and myeloma, although the latter refers to a tumour of marrow-derived cells.
Related word forms
How myelitis is actually used
This is a specialist medical term and is most often encountered as part of a named form or syndrome. It should not be used as a general label for spinal cord disease.
Easily confused with myelitis
Myelitis specifically denotes inflammation of the spinal cord, whereas myelopathy is a broader term for any disorder or damage affecting the spinal cord.