Describe age-related changes in the spinal column

What will be an ideal response?

ANS: (1) Osteophytes tend to form at the end plates, beginning in the third decade. These are found most
commonly at the apices of the curves, which are areas of greatest stress (C4 to C5, T9 to T10, and
L3 to L4). Osteolytic changes at the end plates may be seen around age 50, with patches most
common in the cervical region. Where there is weakness of the end plate, the disc tissue may
protrude through into the trabecular bone of the body (Schmorl's nodes). (2) The discs gradually
lose water content with age, resulting in a diminished length to the spinal column and, in all
likelihood, diminished ability to absorb compressive stress, which is passed increasingly on to the
vertebral body below. The collagen content also shifts with an increased concentration of type II
collagen at the anterior anulus. The reduction in disc height may also increase the likelihood of
entrapment of the exiting peripheral nerves at the intervertebral foramen, because the decreased
disc height will narrow the foramen. (3) The density of the cancellous bone of the body decreases
with age, resulting in an increasing load on the cortical bone. The effect is to decrease stiffness,
resulting in greater creep and slower recovery of tissues. This increases the likelihood of overuse
injury, including compression fractures of the bodies.