What Is a Smorls Node?

Are you interested in biology and the human body, and would you like to know the answer to what is a Smorls node? A Schmorl’s node, also called Schmorl’s nodules, are actually a common occurrence. Thus, it’s important that you know what it is, and to recognize any possible symptoms that you may have them. Yet, what are they exactly, and what is the answer to what is a Smorls node?

Medically, schmorl’s nodules are defined as protrusions of the cartilage of the intervertebral disc. This occurs through the verterbral body endplate. The nodules continue into the adjacent vertebra. Commonly speaking, they are protrusions that occur on your spine. Now that you know the answer to what is a Smorls node, we can examine them a bit more in detail.

Who Discovered Schmorl’s Nodules?

Schmorl’s nodules were discovered by Christian Georg Schmorl. Christian Georg Schmorl was born on May 2, in 1861. Schmorl was a German doctor, and he was specifically a pathologist. He studied in Leipzig, and he spent most of his career at a hospital in Dresden.

As a doctor, Schmorl spent a considerable amount of time researching the human body and the human skeleton. He was responsible for creating a type of histological stain. This histological stain was created to expose the canaliculi and the lamellae in areas of bone. He also created the term “kernicterus” for a type of nuclear jaundice.

During one of his examinations of a human skeleton, Schmorl described what he observed as protrusions on the intervertebral disc. These protrusions were Schmorl’s nodules. Schmorl wrote further about the protrusions in his publication, The Health and Sick Spine. This was published just prior to his death. Schmorl died on August, 14 in 1932. 

Are Schmorl’s Nodules Dangerous?

Sometimes Schmorl’s nodules can result in inflammation. This occurs when the Schmorl’s nodules protrude into the marrow of the vertebra. When the Schmorl’s nodules protrude into the marrow, this then usually leads to irritation and the above mentioned inflammation.

It is currently unknown if Schmorl’s nodules result in back pain. In one study, nineteen percent of the participants also had Schmorl’s nodules. However, that percentage is too small to be considered significant. At best, one might state that there does appear to be a slight correlation between back pain and having Schmorl’s nodules.

Schmorl’s nodules do appear to be correlated with necrosis in the bone of the vertebrae. Necrosis is defined as the death of cells and tissue before they would naturally die. There are a multitude of different causes for necrosis, including infection or trauma. Depending upon the extent of the necrosis, it can frequently be dangerous and sometimes it can even be fatal.

However, although Schmorl’s nodules are correlated with necrosis, it is unsure whether the nodules themselves cause the necrosis, or whether cartilage from the vertebrae moves into areas that are already suffering from necrosis due to other reasons and the cartilage becomes necrotic through contact.

How Can You Diagnose Schmorl’s Nodules?

With the exception of back pain, there are not really any symptoms that are associated with Schmorl’s nodules. However, Schmorl’s nodules can be detected using a radiograph. Currently, Schmorl’s nodules are best detected by using a CT or a MRI.

A CT scan is a “computed tomography” medical image. A MRI scan prooduces a “magnetic resonance image.” While a CT scan uses ionizing radiation, a MRI scan uses a magnetic field to produce its image. Both of these scans produce a clearer image and are able to detect smaller images than using a radiograph. 

Are There Certain Causes for Schmorl’s Nodules?

Schmorl’s nodules are actually quite common. They frequently occur with old age. This is because as an individual ages, minor degeneration of the spine frequently occurs. Schmorl’s nodules aren’t a result of poor diet, but rather the presence of Schmorl’s nodules shows that the spine has had some wear and tear.