Osteoarthritic changes at the severely degenerative disc in humans

A series of postmortem spine specimens demonstrated new osteophytic cartilage production at levels of severe disc degeneration. This tissue is related to the cartilage found within the intervertebral disc. The sequence of pathologic changes occurring within these discs is shown radiographically and histopathologically. A cleft occurred between adjacent vertebral bodies, and recognizable disc material was absent at the cleft. The adjacent bone showed sclerosis, even extending deep within the bodies. Cartilage changes near the two end-plates resemble the histology of degenerative arthritis of hyaline cartilage of a synovial joint.