Home Page
Health A-ZClick to expand menu
Drugs and TreatmentsClick to expand menu
Women's HealthClick to expand menu
Men's HealthClick to expand menu
Children's HealthClick to expand menu
News & BlogsClick to expand menu
Message BoardsClick to expand menu
Print This Page Email a Friend

Anatomy Guide: Low Back Disorders

Herniated Disc
Discs are the cushions between the vertebrae -- the bones -- of your spine. When part of the disk becomes weak, such as from excessive physical strain, the gel within the disc can bulge, protrude, or extrude. This is commonly referred to as a herniated, ruptured, or slipped disc. When this occurs, the nerves from the spinal cord may become compressed, causing back pain and shooting pain down the legs called sciatica.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

Spinal Stenosis
Spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal which leads to pain from pressure on the spinal cord or nerves coming from the spinal cord. This may be related to osteoarthritis or may be caused by an abnormal thickening of the spine, which makes the space around the cord narrower. Patients frequently have back pain that is worse when standing up straight.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition in which bones gradually become weak and vulnerable to injury. The weakened vertebrae may collapse or fracture. These compression fractures may be painful and result in loss of height and may distort the curvature of the spine.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

Osteoarthritis
Degenerative disc disease and bone spurs are common conditions seen with osteoarthritis of the spine. In osteoarthritis, cartilage becomes brittle and wears away. The cartilaginous discs or cushions between the bodies of the vertebrae -- the bones of the spine -- degenerate, resulting in narrowing of the disc space and pain. The cartilage caps of the facet joints wear, which causes pain and loss of flexibility. Further, the narrowed space and the spurring can pinch the spinal nerves, resulting in pain and tingling down the legs -- a condition called sciatica.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

Ankylosing Spondylitis
Ankylosing Spondylitis is an inflammatory or arthritic condition affecting the spine. Most commonly experienced by young men, it generally manifests as low back pain. The first joint affected is between the sacrum or bottom of the spine and the ilium or part of the hip bone -- a condition called sacroiliitis. Chronic inflammation can lead to the ligaments of the spine to become calcified fusing the vertebrae and causing stiffness. AS can also cause inflammation of other joints and body organs.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

Spondylolisthesis
Literally, spondylolisthesis means a slipping forward of the spine, or, in this case, of one verteba onto another. This may be the result of injury or any condition that weakens the bone such as degenerative disc disease or spinal fracture.

Animation displays
in a Pop-up window.

If you are having trouble viewing this WebMD Health Tool,
download the most recent version of Macromedia Flash.


MEDICAL REVIEW: Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD, April 2007.

SOURCE DOCUMENTATION: Orthopaedics: A Study Guide, 1999, McGraw-Hill; US National Library of Medicine
Print This Page Email This Page More Health Tools

LEGAL DISCLAIMER: This tool is for general information purposes only and does not address individual circumstances. It may not be right for you and should not be relied upon in making decisions about your health. Always consult your doctor for medical advice.

© 2004 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved.