Lumbosacral and Spinopelvic Anatomy and Pathology - Degenerated L5-S1 Foramen

Sagittal section through a degenerated L5–SI foramen of a 68–year–old man with no history of back pain or radiculopathy. The intervertebral disc is completely resorbed, note the fusion of the endplates and the lcm wide zone of sclerotic bone. Posteriorly hard dark outer annular layers project into the the neuroforamen (root canal), the relatively small dorsal root ganglion snugly follows the pedicle. The loss of disc height causes subluxation of the facet joints; the tip of the superior articular process erodes into the pars interarticularis of L5 and displays reactive osteoarthrosis changes. The vertical, apparently less loaded portion of the articular facet carries macroscopically normal cartilage. Despite severe loss of segmental height, the dorsal root ganglion and the foraminal vessels are still surrounded by fat.

©2000 Wolfgang Rauschning, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor of Clinical Anatomy
Academic University Hospital
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Uppsala, Sweden
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