In pathogenetic analyses of painful conditions of the locomotor system two basic trends of reflections are apparent: one seeks the causes in structural changes, i.e. in the pathological background and the second one emphasizes the impaired function and ascribes little or no relevance to pathological changes. In the submitted paper the author emphasizes the need to follow up anatomical relations from the functional aspect, more than hitherto, because these findings can elucidate mechanisms on which the functional disorder can develop. These relations are little known, and if so, they are frequently underrated.

        Key words: functional pathology of the locomotor systém