Answer :
Final answer:
The primary underlying pathology of spinal stenosis is (A) degenerative changes in the spine, which involve wear and tear on the vertebrae, intervertebral discs, and ligaments leading to narrowing of the spinal canal.
Explanation:
The underlying pathology of spinal stenosis is primarily a) Degenerative changes in the spine. Over time, the spinal column may undergo various degenerative changes, including the wearing down of intervertebral discs, growth of bone spurs, and thickening of ligaments.
These changes can lead to the narrowing of the spinal canal, which houses the spinal cord and nerve roots, thus leading to spinal stenosis. Conditions such as disc herniation, trauma, and congenital abnormalities can also contribute to the development of spinal stenosis, but the most common cause is the degeneration associated with aging.
Specifically, conditions like degenerative disc disease are known to affect the discs between vertebrae, leading to a reduction in the cushioning and distance between vertebrae. This can contribute significantly to the narrowing of the spinal canal.
Furthermore, the development of osteophytes or bone spurs as part of arthritis or degenerative joint disease can exacerbate the narrowing and compression in the spinal canal, contributing to the symptoms observed in spinal stenosis.
