Final answer:
A laminectomy is the surgical procedure that relieves pressure on a compressed spinal nerve. It involves removing a portion of the vertebral bone to create more space for the nerve.
Step-by-step explanation:
The surgical procedure that relieves pressure on a compressed spinal nerve is laminectomy. A laminectomy involves removing a portion of the vertebral bone, called the lamina, to create more space for the spinal nerve. This can help alleviate symptoms such as pain, numbness, and weakness caused by nerve compression.
For example, if a patient has a herniated disc in the spine that is pressing on a nerve, a laminectomy may be performed to remove a portion of the lamina and the herniated disc, relieving the pressure on the nerve.