The assessment of the cervical or dorsal spine is far superior using magnetic resonance imaging, as it allows for better differentiation of soft ductal tissues; disks, roots, thecal sac and spinal cord, and can also assess the bone marrow. In the presence of a hernia, bone marrow disease can be predictive of a clinically significant or painful diskal disturbance, as opposed to hernias visible with magnetic resonance imaging, but clinically silent. In the case of degenerative disease, MRI helps evaluate the disk and its repercussions, but also articular surface disease, the caliber of the spinal canal, arthrosis and the caliber of the foramens. It therefore helps evaluate the various components of a spinal stenosis.