Spine degeneration. Coloured magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of the lumbar (lower) region of a patients back showing spinal degeneration. The base of the spine is at lower right. The vertebrae of the backbone enclose and protect the spinal cord (brown, surrounded by fluid, white). The main body of each vertebra (brown) is to the left of the spinal cord, and the spinous processes (orange) extend toward the back of the body (right). Several of the vertebrae show evidence of compression and deterioration at the edges. This is due to general wear and tear and has no specific cause.