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Health Tips
DISCS CAN'T SLIP!
Now that I have your attention,
I feel it's important to dispel the common myth that
spinal discs can slip out of place. They absolutely
cannot slip in and out of place like a CD moving in
and out of your CD player. Discs can, however, bulge,
herniate and de-generate. These are the problems we'll
ad-dress in the next couple of issues.
Before we discuss some of
the problems that can occur with discs, we'll need a
basic understanding of disc anatomy and physiology.
Anatomy deals with the specific make-up of a structure,
while physiology focuses on the function of the structure.
Discs comprise approximately
one-third of the overall length of the spine. There
are a total of 23 discs, one between each pair of spinal
vertebrae, except at the top of the neck. They are responsible
for maintaining the normal spinal curve as seen from
the side. Discs, more importantly, are responsible for
all our spinal movements, including bending, twisting
and tilting.
The disc is similar in structure
to a donut. There's a thick, round perimeter of fibrocartilage
called the annulus fibrosis. The soft, jelly-like interior
of this ring is called the nucleus pulposus. The disc
is considered avascular (without its own blood supply),
so it has to depend on movement to absorb the necessary
nutrients and fluid for maintaining its health. This
process of absorption is called imbibition.
Each disc is sandwiched
between two vertebrae and attached to them via millions
of Sharpey's Fibers. These fibers are similar to very
fine strands of rope with fishing hooks attached. The
strands penetrate the bone, and the hooks provide a
very secure anchoring device so that the disc is virtually
one with the vertebrae. This bond is so se-cure that
it can take 1,000 pounds or more of pull to sever the
union of a disc and two lower back (lumbar) vertebrae.
Even then, the separation is a result of the vertebrae
fracturing. So the "slipped disc" scenario
i impossible.
—Jeffrey K. Filippi,
D.C., D.A.B.C.O.
Diplomate, American Board of Chiropractic Orthopedists
February 2003 - Drum
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