Slipped disc in the lumbar spine. Coloured axial (left) and sagittal (right) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the lumbar spine of a 39-year-o
Slipped disc in the lumbar spine. Coloured axial (left) and sagittal (right) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the lumbar spine of a 39-year-old man with a slipped (herniated) intervertebral disc. This herniation is of the disc between the L4 and L5 vertebrae, causing a bulge (white; lower centre at left; upper centre at right) outwards putting pressure on the spinal cord. This pressure can cause severe pain and other neurological symptoms. In this case, it has caused paralytic sciatica (paralysis and pain shooting down the leg) and sphincter disorders (affecting bowel movements). This is a severe herniation of the disc, with a disc fragment having migrated outwards. For a series of images of this condition, including arrows showing the location of the disc bulge, see C040/3347 to C040/3354.
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Photo credit: © ZEPHYR/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
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