Micrograph of a fragment of a resected<unk>  vertebral disc, showing<unk>  fibrocartilage and clusters of chondrocytes. HPS stain.<unk>  discs typically show<unk>  fibrocartilage and clusters of chondrocytes, suggestive of repair. Inflammation may or may not be present. Histologic examination of disc fragments resected for presumed<unk>  is routine to exclude malignancy. Fibrocartilage replaces the gelatinous mucoid material of the nucleus pulposus as the disc changes with age. There may be splits in the anulus fibrosus, permitting herniation of elements of nucleus pulposus. There may also be shrinkage of the nucleus pulposus that produces prolapse or folding of the anulus fibrosus with secondary osteophyte formation at the margins of the adjacent vertebral body. The pathologic findings in<unk>  include protrusion, spondylolysis, and subluxation of vertebrae (spondylolisthesis) and spinal stenosis. It has been hypothesized that Cutibacterium acnes may play a role.
Degenerative disc disease
Lumbar disc disease
Spinal disc herniation
Discitis
Spinal disease
Spinal tumor
Spinal stenosis
Lumbar spinal stenosis