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Degenerative Disc Disease of the Spine: Anatomic and Imaging Considerations

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Diseases of the Brain, Head & Neck, Spine 2012–2015

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Abstract

Traditionally, disc degeneration has been linked to mechanical loading. The importance of mechanical factors has been emphasized by experiments on cadaver spines with both severe single-event and relentless loading [1–5]. Disc failure is more common in areas where there are the heaviest mechanical stresses, such as the lower lumbar region. It has been suggested that mechanical factors produce endplate damage, the antecedent to disc degeneration [6]. The disc is metabolically active, and the metabolism is dependent on diffusion of fluid either from the marrow of the vertebral bodies across the subchondral bone, the cartilaginous endplate, or through the annulus fibrosus from the surrounding blood vessels. Morphologic changes in vertebral bone and cartilaginous endplate, which occur with advancing age or degeneration, can interfere with normal disc nutrition and further the degenerative process. This disruption of the normal endplate results in deformation when under loading. Compressive damage to the vertebral body endplate alters the distribution of stresses in the adjacent disc.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neurological Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA

    Michael T. Modic

  2. Radiology, Chefarzt und Institutsleitung, Zurich, Switzerland

    Christian W. A. Pfirrmann

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  1. Michael T. Modic
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  2. Christian W. A. Pfirrmann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Radiology, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

    J. Hodler

  2. Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland

    G. K. von Schulthess

  3. Kilchberg/Zurich, Switzerland

    Ch. L. Zollikofer

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© 2012 Springer-Verlag Italia

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Modic, M.T., Pfirrmann, C.W.A. (2012). Degenerative Disc Disease of the Spine: Anatomic and Imaging Considerations. In: Hodler, J., von Schulthess, G.K., Zollikofer, C.L. (eds) Diseases of the Brain, Head & Neck, Spine 2012–2015. Springer, Milano. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2628-5_23

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-88-470-2628-5_23

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Milano

  • Print ISBN: 978-88-470-2627-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-88-470-2628-5

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