What condition is described as the rupture of an intervertebral disk, causing pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord?

The condition characterized by the rupture of an intervertebral disk, which leads to pressure on spinal nerves or the spinal cord, is known as a herniated disk. In this condition, the gel-like center of the disk (nucleus pulposus) pushes through a tear in the tougher exterior (annulus fibrosus), resulting in potential compression of neighboring nerve structures. This can cause pain, numbness, or weakness in the areas served by the affected nerves, often radiating down an arm or leg depending on the location of the herniation.

Other conditions mentioned have different definitions and causes. Sciatica refers specifically to pain that radiates along the path of the sciatic nerve, often due to compression, but not exclusively from a herniated disk. Spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal, which may also cause nerve compression but involves a different pathological process. Discitis is an inflammation of an intervertebral disk, typically due to infection, and does not relate to the mechanical rupture associated with a herniated disk. Thus, a herniated disk accurately describes the specific condition of a ruptured intervertebral disk affecting spinal structures.