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Related Concept Videos

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature01:16

Vertebral Column: Regions and Curvature

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Regions of the Vertebral Column
In an adult, the spine is subdivided into five regions: the cervical, the thoracic, the lumbar, the sacral, and the coccygeal region. The spine initially develops as a series of 33 vertebrae; after 20 years of age, the nine bones in the sacral region, five sacral, and four coccygeal bones fuse to form the...
General Case of Eccentric Axial Loading01:12

General Case of Eccentric Axial Loading

Unsymmetrical bending occurs when the bending moment applied to a structural member does not align with its principal axis. This misalignment leads to complex stress distributions and deflection patterns that differ from symmetrical bending, which are essential for designing structures to withstand different loading conditions.
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Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age01:09

Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age

The upper and lower limb initially develops as a small bulge called a limb bud, which appears on the lateral side of the early embryo. The upper limb bud appears near the end of the fourth week of development, with the lower limb bud appearing shortly after.
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Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry01:16

Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry

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Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction01:27

Degenerative Disc Disease I: Introduction

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Deformation of Member under Multiple Loadings01:11

Deformation of Member under Multiple Loadings

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates
10:35

Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates

Published on: September 17, 2019

Sex- and Age-Related Variation in Vertebral Geometry Influences Lumbar Spine Loading: An Image-Based Computational

Gregory G Knapik1, Ehud Mendel2, Eric Bourekas3

  • 1Spine Research Institute, The Ohio State University, 210 Baker Systems Engineering, 1971 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. knapik.1@osu.edu.

Annals of Biomedical Engineering
|June 18, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Sex and age significantly alter lumbar spine biomechanics, affecting how loads are distributed. Understanding these anatomical differences is crucial for personalized low back pain prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords:
Age-related changesImage-based computational modelingLumbar spine biomechanicsSex differencesVertebral geometry

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates
10:35

Precision Measurements and Parametric Models of Vertebral Endplates

Published on: September 17, 2019

Area of Science:

  • Biomechanics
  • Spinal Anatomy
  • Musculoskeletal Research

Background:

  • Low back disorders are common, with higher prevalence in women and older adults.
  • The biomechanical reasons for these demographic differences in low back pain are not fully understood.
  • Vertebral geometry variations related to sex and age may play a key role.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate how sex- and age-related anatomical differences in vertebral geometry influence lumbar spine loading patterns.
  • To identify specific biomechanical mechanisms contributing to demographic disparities in low back disorders.
  • To provide a foundation for anatomically informed risk assessment and clinical strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 360 lumbar motion segments from CT scans of 60 asymptomatic adults (30 males, 30 females; ages 20-69).
  • Developed subject-specific multibody dynamic models with anatomically accurate vertebrae and facet joints.
  • Simulated seven physiologic load cases to analyze disc and facet loading under varying sex and age conditions.

Main Results:

  • Age significantly impacted facet contact forces and intervertebral disc loading, with older adults showing increased facet forces and shear loads, but reduced compression.
  • Sex-based differences were significant when loads were normalized by endplate area; females experienced up to 31% higher normalized compression and shear loads.
  • Substantial inter-subject variability and asymmetry in loading were observed, particularly in the youngest and oldest age groups.

Conclusions:

  • Sex- and age-related anatomical variations in vertebral geometry significantly influence lumbar spine biomechanics.
  • Current modeling approaches may not adequately capture population diversity, potentially limiting accuracy in risk assessment.
  • Emphasizes the need for inclusive, anatomically realistic models for effective personalized clinical strategies and low back pain management.