Research Professor, Clinical and Applied Anatomy and Pathology
Uppsala University Hospital
Uppsala, Sweden
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Sagittal section through the neuroforamina
(root canals) of a severely degenerated lower lumbar spine of a
70–year–old who did not have any history of low–back pain or
radicular pain. Contrary to the situation demonstrated in SECTION
19, both the L4–L5 and the L5–S1 discs are almost completely
resorbed and the bordering endplates display marked sclerotic
changes with destruction of the cancellous bony texture and complete
absence of normal red bone marrow. Posteriorly, endplate osteophytes
(spondylophytes) project into the lateral recesses and
neuroforamina. At L5–S1 there also is a partial ossification of the
annulus fibrosus. The dorsal root ganglia are unusually voluminous
in this specimen, they occupy almost completely the upper portion of
the neuroforamina (subpedicular notch portion) and only a thin layer
of fat and sparse, partially compressed veins surround the ganglia.
The zygapophyseal (or facet) joints are in a subluxed position due
to the loss of segmental height, the pars interarticularis of L5 is
being eroded superiorly by the inferior articular process of L4 and
inferiorly by the superior articular process of S1. Such pars
erosion is a prerequisite for the development of degenerative
spondylolisthesis. There is no cartilage in the L5–S1 facet–joint.
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©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic
University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
Reproduction without permission is prohibited
http://www.akademiska.se/
