codfish vertebra

Fish vertebra, also known as codfish vertebra, describes the biconcave appearance of vertebrae (especially lumbar vertebrae).

Pathology

Etiology

• osteoporosis 
• sickle cell disease: caution required as more usually an H-shaped vertebra
• hereditary spherocytosis
• homocystinuria
• renal osteodystrophy
• osteogenesis imperfecta
• osteomalacia 
• thalassemia major (rarely)

History and etymology

The term fish vertebrae is attributed to Fuller Albright (1900-1969), American endocrinologist. In 1941, he used the term to describe the likeness of the biconcave shape of the human vertebrae to the biconcave shape of fish vertebrae; although the species was unspecified. In 1948, Fuller Albright and Edward Reifenstein (1908-1975), an American endocrinologist, provided images of codfish vertebra to illustrate the deformation of vertebral bodies seen in postmenopausal osteoporosis , hence the term codfish vertebrae .

See also

• H-shaped vertebrae

Siehe auch:

• Sichelzellenanämie
• animal and animal produce inspired signs
• Osteoporose
• H-förmige Wirbel

und weiter:

• bone deformity from softening