[Changes in body length by pressure dependent fluid shifts in the intervertebral discs (author's transl)].

The oscillations of the body length during day and night are caused by hydration and dehydration of the discs. The influence of loading and unloading on the height of the discs is demonstrated by measuring the body length of 108 persons under constant conditions. The loss of height during the day is 1,1% on average. The body-length-curve can be influenced by weight bearing and lying.