Vertebral Column Disk Degeneration

Abstract

The main purpose of this paper is to know about the normal physiology and anatomy of vertebral column, the pathological processes involved in degeneration of vertebral discs and the treatment options available by reviewing the literature and the works of researchers. In this paper we also talk about the new advancements related to treatment options.Normal Anatomy and Physiology of Vertebral Column

The vertebral column of human body is comprised of thirty one separate bones. These bones are termed as Vertebrae. There are seven vertebrae are present in cervical region, twelve vertebrae present in thoracic region and five vertebrae are present in lumbar region. The sacrum is comprised of five fused vertebrae and two coccygeal vertebrae that are sometimes fused. In normal adult human being four curvatures are present in the vertebral column in an anteroposterior plane (Snell, 2011). They make the head aligned with a vertical line across the pelvis. In thoracic and sacral regions, each of these curvatures are termed as kyphosis and oriented concave anterior while in cervical and lumbar regions each of these curvatures are known as lordosis and are convex anterior. During the childhood these normal curvatures develop in connection with head lifting (cervical) and supposing upright and erect sitting (lumbar) and thus are known as secondary curvatures. The sacral and thoracic curvatures are known as primary curvatures as they remain same in adult as they were from the beginning.

Each vertebra is organized with a neural arch in posterior position and a body in anterior position. The vertebral foramen, an opening enclosed by the arch, assists to formulate a canal in which spinal cord is present. Neural arch posterior extreme projection is a spinous process. Transverse processes are present at the tangential edges of each arch. These elements of bones provide an essential site for the attachment of deep back muscles. Laminae are the parts of arch present between the transverse processes and spinous. Whereas Pedicles are the parts of the neural arch between the body and the transverse processes. Each vertebrae consists of two inferior articular facets and two superior articular facets at the junction of pedicles and laminae.

Pathological Processes involved in Degeneration of Vertebral Disks

The proteoglycan loss in degenerated vertebral discs affects the load bearing behavior of the disc. The osmotic pressure exerted by the disc falls due to the loss of proteoglycan, it unable the disc to maintain and retain normal hydration ...