Geriatrics Palmer Exam 2 Practice

As OA/DDD progresses, what happens to disc height?

Disc height increases. Disc height fluctuates but not decreases. Disc height decreases. Disc height remains constant.

Correct Answer:

Disc height decreases.

Explanation:

As OA/DDD progresses, discs lose water and structural integrity, so disc height diminishes. The nucleus pulposus becomes desiccated and loses proteoglycans, reducing its osmotic swelling pressure and ability to maintain height. Over time, annulus degeneration, endplate changes, and osteophyte formation accompany these changes, all contributing to a thinner disc space. Imaging typically shows reduced disc height as these degenerative processes advance, rather than the disc becoming taller, staying the same, or fluctuating without decrease.

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