Science today isn't the same as the science 2000 years ago was but some principles remain the same. The human knowledge constantly grows but with more knowledge there comes even more mysteries and unsolved questions, so science is always going forward.
Causes. The most common cause of a cervical herniated nucleus pulposus is gradual degeneration of the disc, attenuation (weakening) of the posterior annulus fibrosis, and subsequent protrusion of the nucleus pulposus into the spinal canal causing compression of the nerve root.
A herniated disc may be caused by: 1  Wear and tear of the disc. As you age, your discs dry out and aren't as flexible. 2  Injury to the spine. This may cause tiny tears or cracks in the hard outer layer of the disc.