[Age-related changes in the intervertebral disks of the cervical vertebrae of the horse].

The cervical vertebral column of 103 horses of different age (42 weeks old fetus to 23 years) were examined with respect to age-related changes of the intervertebral disks. On gross examination the cervical intervertebral disks in the horse miss a pulpy nucleus but consist of a fibrocartilaginous tissue only, which is in contrast to literature. Age-related degenerative lesions as disintegration of connective tissue fibers leading to partial or complete loss of connection between the disks were found. In the more severe cases a yellow discoloration of the separated disks could be seen. Incidence and grade of the lesions increased with age and from the cranial to the caudal regions of the cervical vertebral column. Even in cases with a high degree degenerative separation clinical symptoms had not been reported.