osteophyte (bone spur)

Etiology

• intervertebral disk disease, osteoarthritis of the spine
• diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)

Pathology

• a projection of bone that occurs at sites of cartilage degeneration or destruction near joints & intervertebral discs
• osteophyte formation is a radiologic sign of osteoarthritis, but not a cause of symptoms in itself

More general terms

• abnormal morphologic structure (malformation)

More specific terms

• heel spur (osteophyte)
• hook-like osteophyte

Additional terms

• intervertebral disk
• osteoarthritis of the spine