Spine and Nerve Root Anatomy: Deviations from the Expected

Cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathies are conditions involving a pathological process affecting the spinal nerve root. Commonly, this is a herniated nucleus pulposis that anatomically compresses a nerve root within the spinal canal. Another common etiology for radiculopathy is spinal stenosis resulting from a combination of degenerative spondylosis, ligament hypertrophy, and spondylolisthesis. Inflammatory radiculitis is another pathophysiological process that can cause radiculopathy. It is important to remember, however, that other more ominous processes such as malignancy and infection can manifest the same symptoms and signs of radiculopathy as the more common causes.