Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1987-2-19
pubmed:abstractText
Posterior and anterior heights, cross-sectional area and shape were measured for all the intervertebral discs in four spines from elderly human cadavers. Disc height was a minimum at the T4-5 level; thoracic discs were less wedge-shaped than those in the cervical and lumbar regions. Cross-sectional area increased from the cranial to caudal extremity; at the L5-S1 level the nucleus pulposus occupied a high proportion of this area. Cervical discs tended to have an elliptical cross-sectional shape, thoracic discs were more circular and lumbar discs tended to have an elliptical cross-section which was flattened or re-entrant posteriorly. This shape distribution was quantified by defining a shape index which had a maximum value of 1 for a circular cross-section. Orientations of the reinforcing fibres in the outer lamellae of the anterior annulus fibrosus were measured from 27 discs by X-ray diffraction. For these measurements, C3-4, T7-8 and L2-3 were chosen as representative of cervical, thoracic and lumbar discs. The fibre tilt, with respect to the axis of the spine, was significantly less in the cervical discs (at 65 degrees) than in the thoracic and lumbar discs (about 70 degrees). These findings are interpreted in relation to differing functional requirements and possible mechanisms of failure in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine in the light of current knowledge on the biomechanics of the intervertebral disc.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:issn
0930-1038
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
8
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
175-82
pubmed:dateRevised
2011-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1986
pubmed:articleTitle
Comparison of the structure of human intervertebral discs in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar regions of the spine.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Comparative Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't