Disorders
& Abnormal Curvatures of
Spinal Column
Name of Spinal
Disorder/Abnormality
Characteristics
Whiplash
• Cervical sprain
• Soft tissue injury
• Neck is forced to
move out of normal
range of motion
Compression Fracture
Occurs when the load
of vertebrae exceeds
its capacity/stability
Intervertebral disk
• composed of an outer fibrous part (anulus
fibrosus) that surrounds a central
gelatinous mass (nucleus pulposus).
spinal disc herniation
• Commonly called slipped disk, heriated disk,
ruptured disk
• a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an
intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion
to be extruded to the outside of the disc.
Spondylolysis
• Spondylolysis: occurs when a vertebra slips
over the one below it
• Caused by excessive or forceful extension of the
Vetebral column.
• great majority of cases occur in the lowest of the
lumbar vertebrae (L5)
– spondylolysis may also occur in the other lumbar
vertebrae, as well as in the thoracic vertebrae.
Dislocation fractures
• ligaments and/or discs
connecting two vertebrae
together are stretched or
torn, the bones may
come out of alignment
• Example: rapid forward
motion of the upper body
against a seat belt pulls
apart the vertebra and
stretches the ligaments.
• can cause instability and
spinal cord compression.
They usually require
stabilization surgery or a
brace.
Kyphosis
• Exaggerated
thoracic curve
• “hunch back”
Lordosis