BIOL355 Lecture Notes - Lecture 35: Spinal Disc Herniation, Intervertebral Disc, Hyaline Cartilage
21 Apr 2017
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Document Summary
Vertebral bodies + discs support weight of body. Discs have soft center called nucleus pulposus. Fibrocartilage shrinks (loss of water in matrix) As fibrocartilage and nucleus pulposus degrade, cannot support pressure of body and as vertebral bodies push down, disc is displaced to one side. Herniated disc results and leads to back pain by pinching nerves in spine. Instead of herniating, nucleus pulposus expands into center of body. More weight placed on outside of vertebrae. Results in characteristic decrease in height with age. 75% of those 75+ will have oa in at least one joint. Normally associated with stiff, inflamed, tender joints. Associated pain, swelling, tissues ligaments tendons, muscles. Any joint but mostly weight bearing joints. When join is used enzymes are released that break down the cartilage. Normally damaged cartilage continuously replaced with new cartilage. With increased age there is a decrease in the formation of new cartilage. More hyaline cartilage is destroyed than replaced.
