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The human spine is made of blocks of bone or vertebrae, which hinge or articulate in the back at the facet joints. In the front, the adjacent vertebrae are separated by discs (Intervertebral Discs). The discs serve as shock-absorbers and allow motion between the bony vertebrae. The discs are made of a tough outer layer called the annulus fibrosus, and a soft gel-like inner core called the nucleus pulposus. There are situations where a tear or crack occurs in the outer layer (anular tear). When this happens the inner gel can squirt out. This is called a disc herniation or Herniated Nucleus Pulposus. The discs and vertebrae form a bony tunel or spinal canal through which the spinal nerves travel. Through age or injury the spinal canal can be narrowed causing pressure on the nerves in the canal. This is called spinal stenosis. |
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