Degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine and their sequelae

Careful pathological examination of lumbar spines removed at autopsy has shown that degenerative changes are present in the intervertebral discs of all subjects by middle age. The degenerative changes are more marked and occur at an earlier age when evidence of vertical or posterior disc prolapse is...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Rheumatology and rehabilitation 1977-02, Vol.16 (1), p.13-21
Main Authors: Vernon-Roberts, B, Pirie, C J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Back - innervation
Bone Diseases - pathology
Child
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intervertebral Disc - diagnostic imaging
Intervertebral Disc - pathology
Intervertebral Disc Displacement - pathology
Joint Diseases - pathology
Lumbar Vertebrae - diagnostic imaging
Lumbar Vertebrae - pathology
Lumbosacral Region - diagnostic imaging
Lumbosacral Region - innervation
Male
Middle Aged
Radiography
Spinal Diseases - pathology
Spinal Osteophytosis - pathology
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Summary:Careful pathological examination of lumbar spines removed at autopsy has shown that degenerative changes are present in the intervertebral discs of all subjects by middle age. The degenerative changes are more marked and occur at an earlier age when evidence of vertical or posterior disc prolapse is also present. Degenerative changes in the discs are always accompanied by osteophyte formation on the margins of the vertebral bodies and remodelling changes in the apophyseal joints. There is a direct relationship between the degree of disc degeneration, marginal osteophyte formation on vertebral bodies, and apophyseal joint changes, which suggests that disc degeneration is the primary event leading to the clinical condition of 'degenerative spondylosis'.
ISSN:0300-3396
DOI:10.1093/rheumatology/16.1.13