What does 'myelitis' refer to?

Myelitis specifically refers to inflammation of the spinal cord, which can result from various infectious agents leading to both infection and necrosis in the spinal cord tissue. This condition impacts the central nervous system and can manifest through symptoms such as weakness, sensory disturbances, or autonomic dysfunction, depending on the affected areas of the spinal cord. Understanding myelitis is crucial in pathology since it can have severe repercussions for neurological function and patient quality of life.

The other conditions mentioned are unrelated to myelitis. For instance, enlargement of the heart due to hypertension concerns cardiac pathology, while inflammation of the large intestine refers to colitis, and the hardening of arteries is a process known as atherosclerosis. Each of these has its distinct etiology and implications, separate from the defined inflammation that myelitis entails.