Dr Adriaan Liebenberg My Spine Explained | Page 29

My Spine Explained Image used with permission from Medtronic Figure 4.3 This drawing illustrates a cervical nerve root that is being compressed by a disc prolapse. The facet joints, A, form the roof of the canal through which the nerve root, B, runs on its way to the arm. The slipped disc, C, is pressing directly on a nerve root and this can cause pain, pins and needles and ultimately weakness in the arm. The intervertebral disc, D, acts as a shock absorber between the vertebrae. 28