Schmorl nodes

Changed by Jeremy Jones, 3 Apr 2015

Updates to Article Attributes

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Schmörl nodes (often spelled Schmorl nodes)refer to protrusions of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent vertebra. The protrusions may contact the marrow of the vertebra, leading to inflammation.

Clinical presentation

They may or may not be symptomatic, and their etiological significance for back pain is controversial. Schmörl nodes are found in 40-75% of autopsies.

In the acute stage, Schmörl nodes can be difficult to diagnose or detect due to sclerosis around the margin of the herniation not having had time to develop. 

Schmörl nodes are among the diagnostic criteria of Scheuermann disease 6.

limbus vertebra is closely related to a Schmörl node as well.

Pathology

It is believed that Schmörl nodes develop following back trauma, although this is incompletely understood. A more recent study suggests nucleus pulposus pressure on the weakest part of the end plate or vertebral development process during early life as possible explanation 7.

History and etymology

It is named after Christian Georg Schmörl(1861-1932), German pathologist whichwho first described them in 1927.

  • -<p><strong>Schmörl nodes</strong> (often spelled <strong>Schmorl nodes</strong>)<strong> </strong>refer to protrusions of the cartilage of the <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent <a href="/articles/vertebra">vertebra</a>. The protrusions may contact the <a href="/articles/bone-marrow">marrow</a> of the vertebra, leading to inflammation.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>They may or may not be symptomatic, and their etiological significance for back pain is controversial. Schmörl nodes are found in 40-75% of autopsies.</p><p>In the acute stage, Schmörl nodes can be difficult to diagnose or detect due to sclerosis around the margin of the herniation not having had time to develop. </p><p>Schmörl nodes are among the diagnostic criteria of <a href="/articles/scheuermann-disease">Scheuermann disease</a> <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>A <a href="/articles/limbus-vertebra">limbus vertebra</a> is closely related to a Schmörl node as well.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is believed that Schmörl nodes develop following back trauma, although this is incompletely understood. A more recent study suggests <a href="/articles/nucleus-pulposus">nucleus pulposus</a> pressure on the weakest part of the end plate or vertebral development process during early life as possible explanation <sup>7</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>It is named after <strong>Christian Georg Schmörl</strong><strong> </strong>(1861-1932), German pathologist which first described them in 1927.</p>
  • +<p><strong>Schmörl nodes</strong> (often spelled <strong>Schmorl nodes</strong>)<strong> </strong>refer to protrusions of the cartilage of the <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a> through the vertebral body endplate and into the adjacent <a href="/articles/vertebra">vertebra</a>. The protrusions may contact the <a href="/articles/bone-marrow">marrow</a> of the vertebra, leading to inflammation.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>They may or may not be symptomatic, and their etiological significance for back pain is controversial. Schmörl nodes are found in 40-75% of autopsies.</p><p>In the acute stage, Schmörl nodes can be difficult to diagnose or detect due to sclerosis around the margin of the herniation not having had time to develop. </p><p>Schmörl nodes are among the diagnostic criteria of <a href="/articles/scheuermann-disease">Scheuermann disease</a> <sup>6</sup>.</p><p>A <a href="/articles/limbus-vertebra">limbus vertebra</a> is closely related to a Schmörl node as well.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It is believed that Schmörl nodes develop following back trauma, although this is incompletely understood. A more recent study suggests <a href="/articles/nucleus-pulposus">nucleus pulposus</a> pressure on the weakest part of the end plate or vertebral development process during early life as possible explanation <sup>7</sup>.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>It is named after <strong>Christian Georg Schmörl</strong><strong> </strong>(1861-1932), German pathologist who first described them in 1927.</p>

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