The pathophysiology of intervertebral disc disease

The degeneration of the intervertebral disc results from several multifactorial pathophysiologic processes. Here, we discuss the anatomy of the intervertebral disc along with a presentation of several pathologic processes including vascular insufficiency (possibly due to cigarette exposure and endothelial dysfunction), anatomic variations, poor nutritional status, infections, autoimmune and/or inflammatory processes, genetic predispositions and iatrogenic occurrences as well as exposure to drugs or toxins that lead to degeneration of the disc. This brief overview establishes a necessary starting point for the understanding of these processes as well as a preview into potential therapeutic targets.