A Review of the Degenerative Intervertebral Disc Disease
Tomaz Velnar *
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia and Medical Faculty, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia.
Gorazd Bunc
Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Centre Maribor, Slovenia.
Uros Maver
Medical Faculty, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia.
Lidija Gradisnik
Medical Faculty, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Maribor, Slovenia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Degenerative disc disorders represent an important cause of morbidity in everyday clinical practice. Numerous factors may initiate degenerative processes, which most commonly affect the nucleus pulposus and ultimately influence the biomechanics of the spine. Mechanisms of degeneration and associated factors are briefly described.
Keywords: Fibrous annulus, nucleus pulposus, intervertebral disc, degeneration, spine