What does laminectomy signify?

The back part: The lamina is the flat part of the bone on the back side of the spinal bone (vertebra) that helps form the channel for the sac containing the spinal cord (neck and mid back) and nerves (low back). Laminectomy removes all or almost all of this bone without removing the small joints (facets) next to it. Surgeons usually try to limit the amount removed without compromising the operation's goal.

A surgery to open up: The posterior or back part of the spine or roof known as the lamina to gain access to the spinal canal to decompress the nerve tissue from a disc herniation, spinal stenosis, an infection, tumor or occasionally a fracture but combined with a fusion in that case. One is removing the lamina -laminectomy.