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 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. |
 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. |
 An
abnormal spinal condition known as scoliosis is shown in this drawing.
Scoliosis is a lateral (sideways) curvature of the spine. |
 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 thefacet 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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