Mechanical Properties of Human Lumbar Spine Motion Segments—Part II: Responses in Compression and Shear; Influence of Gross Morphology

Abstract

In this second part of a three-part report, we consider the mechanical behavior of 42 fresh human cadaver lumbar motion segments in compression, and in anterior, posterior, and lateral shear. We report the motions and the intradiskal pressure increases that occurred with posterior elements both intact and destroyed. We also examine to what extent intervertebral disk gross morphology can explain the large scatter in the results presented here, as well as in the results reported in Part I concerning mechanical behavior in flexion, extension, lateral bending, and torsion.