Introduction. Baastrup's sign, also referred to as âkissing spinesâ, is a common disorder of the vertebral column characterized by close approximation and contact of the spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae, resulting in the formation of a new joint between them (Baastrup, 1936 and Sartoris et al., 1985).. Baastrup's sign, also referred to as âkissing spinesâ, is a common disorder of the vertebral column characterized by close approximation and contact of the spinous processes of two adjacent vertebrae, resulting in the formation of a new joint between them (Baastrup, 1936 and Sartoris et al., 1985).
The most likely theory though is that the name comes from the Old English word for sea-floor shark: hurse. Nurse sharks are slow-moving bottom-dwellers and are, for the most part, harmless to humans. However, they can be hugeâup to 14 feet (4.3 meters)âand have very strong jaws filled with thousands of tiny, serrated teeth, and will bite defensively if stepped on or bothered by divers who assume theyâre docile.
Imagine an adult person â now triple that size. Thatâs the size of the great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). The biggest great white sharks can reach up to 20 feet long, but most are smaller. The average female is 15-16 feet long, while males reach 11-13 feet. More about the great white shark can be found in our great white shark overview. Take the size of an adult and multiply it ten times, and you get the Giant Megatooth (Carcharodon megalodon) about the size and weight of a railroad car.