A answered. Once the bacteria from a cat scratch reaches the blood stream, cat scratch disease (CSD) can spread to various parts of the body. Swollen lymph nodes closest to the scratch or bite are the most noticeable symptom. Most often these are the lymph nodes in the head, neck or upper limbs.
The upper three regions comprise the remaining 24, and are grouped under the names cervical (7 vertebrae), thoracic (12 vertebrae) and lumbar (5 vertebrae), according to the regions they occupy. Source(s): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebrae.
Lumbar spondylosis is present in 27-37% of the asymptomatic population. In the United States, more than 80% of individuals older than 40 years have lumbar spondylosis, increasing from 3% of individuals aged 20-29 years. Internationally, lumbar spondylosis can begin in persons as young as 20 years. It increases with, and perhaps is an inevitable concomitant of, age. Approximately 84% of men and 74% of women have vertebral osteophytes, most frequently at T9-10 and L3 levels.