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Ruptures of the anulus fibrosus of cervical intervertebral discs studied by cryomicrotomy and magnetic resonance
Author(s) -
Sether Lowell A.,
Yu Shiwei,
Haughton Victor M.,
Wagner Marvin
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
clinical anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.667
H-Index - 71
eISSN - 1098-2353
pISSN - 0897-3806
DOI - 10.1002/ca.980020102
Subject(s) - medicine , tears , magnetic resonance imaging , anatomy , lumbar , intervertebral disk , concentric , cadaver , radiology , surgery , geometry , mathematics
Degeneration of the anulus fibrosus in the cervical region has not been studied as systematically as in the lumbar intervertebral discs. We used cryomicrotomy and magnetic resonance (MR) to study the cervical discs in 18 cadavers. Three types of anular tears were identified: (1) a concentric tear due to delamination of the anulus, (2) a radial tear in which all layers of the anulus were disrupted, and (3) a transverse tear of the peripheral anulus. The latter two tear types could be demonstrated by MR. On the basis of their frequency the concentric and transverse tears are not likely symptomatic. Radial tears, which some investigators have suggested are symptomatic, may be studied clinically with MR.