This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. Medical: Health Care

at 3.5mm in depth

English translation: at/to a depth of 3.5 mm

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:at 3.5mm in depth
Selected answer:at/to a depth of 3.5 mm
Entered by: Charles Davis

09:38 Apr 7, 2017
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Medical - Medical: Health Care / MRI scan
English term or phrase: at 3.5mm in depth
MRI scan report.

"At the level of L4/L5 a generalised bulging protrusion of the disc seeping into the vertebral canal at 3.5mm in depth – absolute stenosis of the vertebral canal (the sagittal diameter of 9.5 mm)."

I'm translating this text into English. The Polish text says "seeps into the vertebral canal at the 3.5mm depth" (3.5mm into the vertebral column) - but I'm not sure if that's clear in English. Any suggestions on how to improve it?
Ewa Dabrowska
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:38
at a depth of 3.5 mm
Explanation:
To me that is the natural way to say it in English.

"entered the intervertebral foramen at a depth of 7.7 cm from the skin"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19087005

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2017-04-07 10:27:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On the other hand, looking at the context more closely, what you need may be "to a depth of 3.5 mm". "At a depth of" describes the position of something. "To a depth of" describes how deeply — to what depth — something penetrates. You will have to judge from the Polish context which it is.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 15:38
Grading comment
Thank you Charles
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +10at a depth of 3.5 mm
Charles Davis
4....bulging of 3.5 cm into the spinal canal...
Lirka


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +10
at a depth of 3.5 mm


Explanation:
To me that is the natural way to say it in English.

"entered the intervertebral foramen at a depth of 7.7 cm from the skin"
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19087005

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2017-04-07 10:27:31 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On the other hand, looking at the context more closely, what you need may be "to a depth of 3.5 mm". "At a depth of" describes the position of something. "To a depth of" describes how deeply — to what depth — something penetrates. You will have to judge from the Polish context which it is.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 15:38
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thank you Charles

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: imo that is the big advantage in using a native speaker- the instinctive/gut feeling about the right way to say/write something/second nature?
32 mins
  -> Thanks! It's often those little things that you take for granted.
agree  B D Finch: ... to a depth of 3.5 mm?
41 mins
  -> I suspect that is what it means, yes; hence my added note. But I don't know enough about the medical situation described to be sure. Thanks!
agree  acetran
1 hr
  -> Thanks, acetran!
agree  Patricia Fierro, M. Sc.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Patricia :)
agree  Edith Kelly
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Edith :)
agree  Jack Doughty
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jack
agree  Tina Vonhof (X): I also think it should be 'to' a depth of 3.5 mm.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Tina :) That seems more likely to me too.
agree  Yasutomo Kanazawa
22 hrs
  -> Thanks, Yasutomo-san :)
agree  Mikhail Korolev
4 days
  -> Thanks, klp :)
agree  Jörgen Slet: to
45 days
  -> Yes, I think so. Thanks, Jörgen:)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
....bulging of 3.5 cm into the spinal canal...


Explanation:
that is how I would phrase it...

Lirka
Austria
Local time: 15:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search