Herniated disk xray images plus#

The disc is most vulnerable to injury at the weakest parts of the outer ring, where nerves pass through the spinal canal and exit toward the legs. If one of these tears is large enough and the stresses inside the disc strong enough, some of the pulposis can leak through the tear. The outer ring of the disc is subject to continuous stresses that sometimes cause small tears to develop. Both of these functions are severely tested in the lumbar spine, where enormous loads frequently occur and physical activities demand wide ranges of motion.

The combination of soft inner core and strong outer ring also allows maximum motion between the bone segments. The gelatin-like nucleus pulposis distributes the stress evenly across the surfaces of the adjacent bones. The job of the disc is to transmit this load efficiently and evenly to the vertebra below. Research has shown that picking up a 20 pound weight may increase pressures inside the disc by more than eight times the body's weight. Because the body's center of gravity is in front of the discs, loads on the disc are increased by leverage, much like a nutcracker multiplies force on a nut.

Herniated disk xray images plus#

The lumbar (lower back) discs must support the weight of the entire upper body plus whatever is picked up or carried. It transmits the weight of the body from the bone above to the bone below. There is a delicate balance between the forces trying to push the gelatin-like nucleus out to the sides and the tension of the outer ring holding it in place. This cartilage transmits the load from bone to bone. This is a soft gelatin-like cartilage with a very high water content which provides cushioning while evenly supporting the weight of the body. The nucleus pulposis is located inside the annulus. The outer ring holds the nucleus pulposis in place.

If this ring were empty, it would collapse when weight was applied to the bone above. This outer ring is about 1/4 inch thick, and by itself, doesn't have much compressive strength. The ring has strong crosshatched fibers much like the steel belts of a car tire. The strong outer ring or annulus, is firmly attached to the vertebrae above and below the disc. Discs are composed of two parts that work together to carry the load. The disc may look like a solid piece of padding between the vertebrae, but it is far more complex. A herniation occurs when a portion of the soft inner core ( nucleus pulposis) escapes through the outer ring ( annulus). There are subtle differences between these terms, but they all refer to a tear in the outer ring, which allows some of the inner core to escape. The structure of the disc determines the extent of injury, if one occurs.ĭisc herniation, rupture, protrusion, and extrusion are all terms that describe this injury.

The discs between the lower lumbar vertebrae are the most commonly injured because they support the weight of the entire upper body. Discs are vulnerable to injury because they have the difficult job of being flexible enough to move, but strong enough to take enormous stress. There are twenty-four mobile vertebrae and five that are fused together to form the sacrum. Discs are the pads between the vertebrae of the spine.