Spinal arthritis. X-ray of a section through the cervical spine (neck) of a 55-year-old male patient with neck pain, showing severe osteoarthritis (cervicarthrosis) affecting the spine at the level of the C3 to C6 vertebrae. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease that results from the breakdown of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, resulting in joint swelling, pain and a decreased range of motion.