[A morphological study of the etiology and growth of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament of the spine].
To know causative and growth factors of ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine, we carried out morphological investigation on 212 cases with OPLL and 9 cases of autopsies without OPLL. The results are as follows: 1) The etiology of OPLL ensued from enchondral ossification of ligamentous fibers has not only its primary source in a hereditary factor of polygenic character, but also anatomical stress, age and sex may be influential in causative factors. 2) When the degree of the hereditary factor is weak, the lesion initiates near the posterior border of the vertebral body and grow into a segmental or localized type of OPLL in the final form. When the degree of the hereditary factor is strong, a wide ossification of a continuous or mixed type of OPLL initiates all at once and grow up with movement of the spine, after which modeling continues to take place. 3) New ossification growth over time will arise from the stress resulting from movement of the spine.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008022:Ligaments / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D013131:Spine / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*