Arthritis of the spine. Coloured profile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the spine of a patient with cervical osteoarthritis, a degenerative

---

Arthritis of the spine. Coloured profile magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the spine of a patient with cervical osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease. The front of the body is at left. Osteoarthritis damages the cartilage between the vertebrae (yellow blocks), moving them close together. As the cartilage is worn away new bone grows, a process known as osteophytosis. This limits the flexibility and movement of the neck. Treatment is with anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and in severe cases, surgery.

---

Size: 3401px × 3969px
Photo credit: © ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: arthritic, arthritis, body, bone, bones, cervical, coloured, condition, damage, damaged, degeneration, degenerative, diagnosis, diagnostics, disc, discs, disease, disorder, false-coloured, healthcare, human, imaging, inflamed, inflammation, intervertebral, joint, joints, magnetic, medical, medicine, mri, neck, osteoarthritis, profile, resonance, scan, scanner, side-view, spinal, spine, vertebra, vertebrae