Schmorl’s nodes in two 19th-20th century Spanish osteological collections from Valladolid and Granada

Abstract

Objective: This study examines how age at death, sex, and socio-historical context relate to the frequency, location, and severity of Schmorl’s nodes. Materials: The sample comprised thoracic and lumbar vertebrae of 192 skeletons from two contemporary documented osteological collections from Spain, in Valladolid and Granada, both of which contain individuals who died during the second half of the 20th century. Methods: Schmorl’s nodes were recorded on the superior and inferior surfaces of vertebral bodies and their location was categorized in one of three areas: center, canal, and periphery. Results: The prevalence of Schmorl’s nodes was 57.42 % for the Valladolid collection and 67.39 % for Granada, with no significant differences between collections. Statistically significant differences were found between the sexes, but age at death did not correlate with the presence of the lesion. Conclusions: This analysis supports the absence of a direct relationship between the pathology and the aging process, but shows a greater predisposition in male individuals, suggesting that vertebral morphology and/or physical activity might be key etiological factors. Significance: This research enhances our understanding of the etiology of Schmorl’s nodes by highlighting sex as a key variable and suggesting a lack of association with age. Limitations: The absence of data on occupational activity prevents correlating this variable with the presence of Schmorl’s nodes. Suggestions for further research: Conduct studies on geometric morphometric data to corroborate the evolutionary hypothesis proposed by other authors.