[Involvement of the anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine in the morphogenesis of osteophytes in spondylosis deformans].

Morphology and relief of the mineralizing front of osteophytes associated with lumbar spondylosis have been studied by means of scanning electron microscopy. During osteophyte formation deep-laid fibers of anterior longitudinal ligament of the spine undergo mineralization followed by their resorption and subsequent replacement by bone structures. Osteophyte surface at its apex consists of mineralized fibers of longitudinal ligament of the spine, formed by mineralized cartilage structures in the area adjacent to the intervertebral disk and by resting bone surface with zone of bone formation and resorption in the area adjacent to longitudinal ligament of the spine.