[Mineral changes in the intervertebral disc and facet joints during aging].

The mineralogic examinations of intervertebral disc and cartilages of facet joints, taken from corps of the accidents victims, from the level L4-L5, were performed. At the moment of accident the middle age of victim was 41.2 years (4-87 years). Scanning microscopy, atom absorption, chemical analyses and electron microprobe analyses were used in the examinations. As the result of examinations we found: demineralisation of nucleus pulposus in the intervertebral disc and two kinds of mineralisation of anulus fibrosus--invisible and visible. Invisible mineralization was found as the initial stage of visible mineralization. In the cartilages of fact joints, similarly as in the anulus fibrosus, the visible mineralization was found, characterised by the presence of the different shaped mineral deposits in the microscope. The invisible mineralization characterised by increased content of Ca and P and by changes in the chemical composition of basic cartilage substance Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sr, Na, K. It was detected with very sensitive methods. The very close relations between mineralogic changes in the intervertebral disc and facet joints cartilages were also found. Mineralogic changes in degenerative changes of vertebral column outstrip the radiologic ones.