Description: This illustration is intended to teach patients with cervical radiculopathy the basic sequence of events leading to their pathology. Step 1: A misaligned cervical vertebra compresses the intervertebral disc beneath it. Step 2: When this pressure reaches a critical point, part of the nucleus pulposus at the center of the disc protrudes from the surrounding annulus fibrosus. Step 3: As the disc herniation encroaches on the spinal cord and/or spinal nerve at that vertebral level, neural signals traveling along the spinal nerve are disrupted leading to cervical radiculopathy. The illustration should help inform patients with this neurological condition what is causing their pain, and familiarize them with the relevant anatomical structures.

Media: Raster (Adobe Photoshop)

References:
Gilroy, A. M., MacPherson, B.R., Ross, L. M. (2009). Atlas of Anatomy, 2nd ed. Thieme. (15).
Haines, D. E. (2015). Neuroanatomy in Clinical Context: An Atlas of Structures, Systems, and Syndromes. 9th ed. Wolters Kluwer. (306).

Stages of cervical herniated disc