Radek Lhotsky Feb 21, 2014:

yes, and to avoid confusion, i rather translated it as pathology but obviously you can use the term process as well :-) ....
all the best

Dylan Edwards (asker) Feb 21, 2014:

That's what I began to suspect when I looked at examples of how "tbc proces" is used in Czech - i.e. it's 'proces' in the sense you mention, Radek.

Radek Lhotsky Feb 21, 2014:

Hi Dylan, i explained again in the answer of Stuart. The term "proces" here does not refer to any of the part of the vertebrae. It may be misleading. Proces is a process/pathology caused by the tuberculosis and it affects the spine. Simple as that

Dylan Edwards (asker) Feb 21, 2014:

Let me get this straight, "spinous" doesn't refer specifically to the spine (backbone), does it? That would be "spinal". "Spinous" means thorn-like (narrow and pointed).