title: Spondylosis and lumbar instability: pathologic changes.
abstract: The degenerative processes of the lumbar spine generally initiate from the intervertebral disc, at the level of which progressive biochemical and structural changes take place leading to a modification in its physical properties of elasticity and mechanical resistance. Disc lesions cause pathological changes in the vertebral bodies, where osteophytes appear, and in the posterior joints. In more severe forms of the process the severe deformation of joint shape may lead to a condition of spondylolisthesis.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Ortopedica e Traumatologica, II Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Pavia, Ospedale F. Del Ponte, Varese.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cherubino
authors.forename: U E
authors.initials: UE
authors.lastname: Pazzaglia
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Borromeo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000473:pathology; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000473:pathology*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013128:Spinal Osteophytosis / Q000473:pathology*; D013168:Spondylolisthesis / Q000473:pathology; D009626:Terminology as Topic