Spondylosis refers to which of the following descriptions?

• A. Acute infection of the spine
• B. Degenerative wear of intervertebral discs and facet joints (often with bony spur formation)
• C. Traumatic fracture of a vertebra
• D. Herniated disc with radiculopathy

Answer: (B)

Spondylosis reflects degenerative changes in the spine driven by aging: wear and tear of the intervertebral discs and the facet joints, often with the formation of bone spurs (osteophytes). This combination explains why the description emphasizes degenerative wear of the discs and facet joints with bony spur formation. These changes can narrow the spaces between vertebrae and irritate nearby structures, but they are not about infection, a traumatic fracture, or a disc herniation alone. An acute spine infection would present with infection-related symptoms and imaging of infection rather than chronic degenerative changes; a traumatic fracture involves a break in the vertebra; and a herniated disc with radiculopathy involves disc material protruding and compressing a nerve, which is a distinct process from the general degenerative pattern seen in spondylosis.