The drawings to the right and below represent
the appearance of a herniated or ruptured disc. Both drawings
show the disruption of the annulus fibrosus, the outer ring-like
portion of an intervertebral disc.
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The tissue located in the center of the intervertebral
disc, the nucleus pulposus, is partially extruded from the
intervertebral disc. The extruded nucleus pulposus material
can exert pressure on nerves thus causing pain, numbness,
and muscle weakness due to nerve damage.
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An abnormal spinal condition known as scoliosis
is shown in this drawing. Scoliosis is a lateral (sideways)
curvature of the spine.
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This drawing represents the spinal condition
of lordosis. Lordosis is the abnormal increase in normal lordotic
(anterior) curvature of the lumbar spine. This can lead to
a noticeable "sway-back" appearance.
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This
drawing illustrates degenerative and hypertrophic arthritis
between the 3rd, 4th, and 5th lumbar vertebrae, as well as
the lumbosacral joint (L5-S1 disc space). The degeneration
of the intervertebral discs has reduced the height of the
discs.
There
are bone spurs or hypertrophic bone adjacent to the discs
and hypertrophic arthritis of the facet joints. This results
in reduced range of motion of the spine. Also, the hypertrophic
bone and narrowing of the intervertebral foramen can produce
nerve root impingement thereby causing back and leg pain,
as well as numbness and weakness of leg muscles.
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