What is unremarkable intervertebral discs?
Spondylosis Facts
- The word spondylosis comes from the Greek word for vertebrae.
- Spondylosis refers to degenerative changes in the spine such as bone spurs and degenerating intervertebral discs between the vertebrae.
- Spondylosis changes in the spine are frequently referred to as osteoarthritis. ...
Which body tissue makes up the intervertebral discs?
Discs and the S-shaped of the vertebral column prevent shock to the head in walking and running and provide flexibility to the body trunk What kind of tissue makes up the intervertebral discs? fibrocartilage
What are the intervertebral disks are composed of?
There are three subtypes of herniations:
- Disc protrusion is characterized by the width of the base of the protrusion is wider than the diameter of the disc material that is herniated.
- In disc extrusion, the AF is damaged, allowing the NP to herniate beyond the normal bounds of the disc. ...
- In disc sequestration, the herniated material breaks off from the body of the NP.
What cartilage forms the intervertebral discs?
Types of Cartilage
- Hyaline Cartilage. The most common form of cartilage is hyaline cartilage. ...
- Fibrocartilage. Found where tendons and ligaments meet bone, at the pubic symphysis, in the menisci, the sternoclavicular joint, and the annulus fibrosus (the center of the intervertebral disc), fibrocartilage is ...
- Elastic Cartilage. ...
What tissue is intervertebral disc made of?
FibrocartilageFibrocartilage is the tough, very strong tissue found predominantly in the intervertebral disks and at the insertions of ligaments and tendons; it is similar to other fibrous tissues but contains cartilage ground substance and chondrocytes.
What are intervertebral discs made of and what is their function?
The discs have a tough outer covering of cartilage that provides support (the annulus fibrosus) and a soft, jellylike center that provides the cushioning (the nucleus pulposus). The intervertebral discs have the following functions: They provide cushioning for the vertebrae and reduce the stress caused by impact.
Are intervertebral discs made of connective tissue?
Fibrocartilage is a mixture of dense regular connective tissue and hyaline cartilage. It is found in intervertebral discs, pubic symphysis, articular discs and menisci of joints. Intervertebral discs that are found between adjacent vertebrae of the spine contain fibrocartilage .
What are intervertebral discs made of quizlet?
Intervertebral disks are made up of a series of tough outer rings called Annulus Fibrosus and a soft gelatinous inner Nucleus Puplosus.
Is intervertebral discs made of fibrocartilage?
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is important in the normal functioning of the spine. It is a cushion of fibrocartilage and the principal joint between two vertebrae in the spinal column.
What is the nucleus pulposus made of?
The semifluid nucleus pulposus is composed of a loose network of cells of notochordal origin interspersed within a collagen and proteoglycan matrix. Nuclear proteoglycans have a strong affinity for water, giving the nucleus a positive swelling pressure or turgor. The nucleus is abneural and avascular.
Which type of cartilage makes up the discs in the vertebrae?
The intervertebral disk end plate comprises a thin layer of hyaline cartilage that is bonded to an underlying layer of perforated cortical bone.
Where is the intervertebral disc?
An intervertebral disc (or intervertebral fibrocartilage) lies between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column. Each disc forms a fibrocartilaginous joint (a symphysis), to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, to act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together, and to function as a shock absorber for the spine.
What is the function of the intervertebral discs quizlet?
What is the function of the intervertebral discs? The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers and provide flexibility to the spine, allowing it to flex and extend.
What is the role of the intervertebral disk?
An intervertebral disk acts as shock absorber between each of the vertebrae in the spinal column by keeping the vertebrae separated when there is impact from activity. They also serve to protect the nerves that run down the middle of the spine and intervertebral disks.
What is the inner covering of the spine?
Inside this protective covering is a jelly-like substance known as mucoprotein gel. This interior is known as the nucleus pulposus. As the spine receives pressure, the gel moves inside the annulus fibrosus and redistributes itself to absorb the impact of the pressure.
How many disks are there in the human spine?
They also serve to protect the nerves that run down the middle of the spine and intervertebral disks. There are a total of 24 disks in the human spine. The disks are made of fibrocartilaginous material. The outside of the disk is made of a strong material called the annulus fibrosus.
What is the intervertebral disc?
Anatomical terminology. An intervertebral disc (or intervertebral fibrocartilage) lies between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column. Each disc forms a fibrocartilaginous joint (a symphysis ), to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, to act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together, and to function as a shock absorber for the spine.
How many discs are there between vertebrae?
There is one disc between each pair of vertebrae, except for the first cervical segment, the atlas. The atlas is a ring around the roughly cone-shaped extension of the axis (second cervical segment). The axis acts as a post around which the atlas can rotate, allowing the neck to swivel.
What is the structure of the Cervical vertebra?
Structure. Cervical vertebra with intervertebral disc. Intervertebral discs consist of an outer fibrous ring, the anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis, which surrounds an inner gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus. The anulus fibrosus consists of several layers (laminae) of fibrocartilage made up of both type I and type II collagen.
What is the space between adjacent vertebrae?
Intervertebral disc space . The intervertebral disc space is typically defined on an X-ray photograph as the space between adjacent vertebrae. In healthy patients, this corresponds to the size of the intervertebral disc.
Which type of intervertebral disc is concentrated toward the edge of the ring?
The stiff laminae can withstand compressive forces. The fibrous intervertebral disc contains the nucleus pulposus and this helps to distribute pressure evenly across the disc.
What is a herniated disc?
Herniation. Stages of spinal disc herniation. Main article: Spinal disc herniation. A spinal disc herniation, commonly referred to as a slipped disc, can happen when unbalanced mechanical pressures substantially deform the anulus fibrosus, allowing part of the nucleus to obtrude.
How many discs are there in the spine?
There are 23 discs in the human spine: 6 in the neck ( cervical) region, 12 in the middle back ( thoracic) region, and 5 in the lower back ( lumbar) region Discs are named by the vertebral body above and below. For example, the disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertebrae is designated "C5-6".
What is the nucleus pulposus?
Nucleus Pulposus. The center portion of each intervertebral disc is a filled with a gel-like elastic substance. Together with the annulus fibrosis, the nucleus pulposus transmits stress and weight from vertebra to vertebra. The structural components of the nucleus pulposus is similar to the annulus fibrosus; water, collagen and proteoglycans.
What are the structural components of the nucleus pulposus?
The structural components of the nucleus pulposus is similar to the annulus fibrosus; water, collagen and proteoglycans. The difference is the concentration of these substances. The nucleus contains more water than the annulus.
What is the largest structure in the body without a vascular supply?
The intervertebral discs are the largest structures in the body without a vascular supply. By means of osmosis, each disc absorbs needed nutrients. Each disc is made up of two parts: the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus.
What is the annulus of the spine?
The annulus is a sturdy tire-like structure that encases a gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus. The annulus enhances the spine’s rotational stability and helps to resist compressive stress. The annulus is a layered structure consisting of water and sturdy elastic collagen fibers.
What is the intervertebral disc?
Understanding Spinal Anatomy: Intervertebral Discs. Between each vertebral body is a cushion called an intervertebral disc. Each disc absorbs the stress and shock the body incurs during movement and prevents the vertebrae from grinding against one another. The intervertebral discs are the largest structures in the body without a vascular supply. ...
What is collagen made of?
The fibers are oriented at different angles horizontally similar to the construction of a radial tire. Collagen consists of fibrous bundles made of protein bound together by proteoglycan gel. The intervertebral discs are the largest structures in the body without a vascular supply.
What is the nucleus pulposus?
The nucleus pulposus is the inner gel material surrounded by the annulus fibrosus. It makes up about 40 percent of the disc. This ball-like gel is contained within the lamellae. The nucleus is composed primarily of loose collagen fibers, water, and proteins.
What are the two parts of the intervertebral disc?
The intervertebral disc is made up of two components: the annulus fibrosus and the nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus is the outer portion of the disc. It is composed of layers of collagen and proteins, called lamellae.
Why does my disc bulge?
Injury or aging of the annulus fibrosus may allow the nucleus pulposus to be squeezed through the annulus fibers either partially, causing the disc to bulge, or completely, allowing the disc material to escape the disc. The bulging disc or nucleus material may compress the nerves or spinal cord, causing pain.
What is the function of discs in the spine?
The discs act as shock absorbers to the loads placed on the spine and allow movement of the spine. Movement at a single disc level is limited, but all of the vertebrae and discs combined allow for a significant range of motion.
When do discs degenerate?
At this point, the disc begins to degenerate, or age. By the age of 50, over 95 percent of all people will have disc degeneration. The disc begins to lose water content and shrinks.
What is intervertebral disc ?
There are a total of 24 disks in the human spine. The disks are made of fibrocartilaginous material. The outside of the disk is made of a strong material called the annulus fibrosus. Inside this protective covering is a jelly-like substance known as mucoprotein gel.
Intervertebral disc definition
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is important in the normal functioning of the spine. It is a cushion of fibrocartilage and the principal joint between two vertebrae in the spinal column. There are 23 discs in the human spine: 6 in the cervical region (neck), 12 in the thoracic region (middle back), and 5 in the lumbar region (lower back).
Intervertebral disc anatomy
A gel-like structure that sits at the center of the intervertebral disc and accounts for much of the strength and flexibilityn of the spine. It is made of 66% to 86% water with the remainder consisting of primarily type II collagen (it may also contain type VI, IX, and XI) and proteoglycans.
Innervation to intervertebral disc
The disc is innervated in the outer few millimetres of the annulus fibrosus .
Vascular Supply and Nutrition
The IVD is largely avascular, with no major arterial branches to the disc . The outer annular layers are supplied by small branches from metaphysical arteries. Only the outer annulus is vascularized. Blood vessels near the disc-bone junction of the vertebral body as well as those in the outer annulus supply the NP and inner annulus.
Bio–mechanics of intervertebral disc
Weight bearing: The disc is subjected to various loads, including compressive, tensile and shear stresses . During compressive loading, hydrostatic pressure develops within the NP, which thereby disperses the forces towards the endplates as well as the AF .
Physiologic Variants
Disc thickness generally increases from rostral to caudal. The thickness of the discs relative to the size of the vertebral bodies is highest in the cervical and lumbar regions. This reflects the increased range of motion found in those regions.
What are the three main components of the spine?
They consist of three major components: the inner, nucleus pulposus (NP), the outer, annulus (AF) and the cartilaginous endplates that anchor the discs to adjacent vertebrae.
What is the nucleus pulposus?
Nucleus Pulposus. A gel-like structure that sits at the center of the intervertebral disc and accounts for much of the strength and flexibility of the spine. It is made of 66% to 86% water with the remainder consisting of primarily type II collagen (it may also contain type VI, IX, and XI) and proteoglycans. The proteoglycans include the larger ...
How many discs are there in the human spine?
There are 23 discs in the human spine: 6 in the cervical region (neck), 12 in the thoracic region (middle back), and 5 in the lumbar region (lower back). IVDs allow the spine to be flexible without sacrificing a great deal of strength.
What is the ring apophysis?
Each endplate covers almost the entire surface of the adjacent vertebral body; only a narrow rim of bone, called the ring apophysis, around the perimeter of the vertebral body is left uncovered by cartilage.
Which proteoglycans bind to hyaluronic acid?
The proteoglycans include the larger aggrecan and versican that bind to hyaluronic acid, as well as several small leucine-rich proteoglycans. Aggrecan is largely responsible for retaining water within the NP. This structure also contains a low density of cells.
Where is the disc innervated?
The disc is innervated in the outer few millimetres of the annulus fibrosus . Only the outer third of the AF is vascular and innervated in a non-pathologic state. In ageing and states of inflammation, both nerve growth and granulation tissue growth are stimulated.
What is cartilaginous endplate?
An upper and a lower cartilaginous endplate (each about 0.6– 1 mm thick) cover the superior and inferior aspects of the disc. The endplate permits diffusion and provides the main source of nutrition for the disc. The hyaline endplate is also the last part of the disc to wear through during severe disc degeneration.
What is the most common type of disc injury?
The intervertebral discs are vulnerable to a variety of injuries. The most common is called a herniated disc (a.k.a., a bulging disc or slipped disc). Herniated discs usually occur later in life. As the discs age, they begin to break down and when a person puts excess stress on them, like lifting something heavy at the waist instead of with the legs, they can rupture, break open, and the jellylike center leaks out. The jelly can irritate surrounding nerves and cause them to become inflamed. This inflammation can put pressure on the nerves, which result in back pain. Herniated discs can be diagnosed several ways, including palpitation (feeling the spine), or x-ray and MRI imaging. Treatment for herniated discs can be as simple as rest and allowing it to heal, taking anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling, and, in some extreme cases, surgery can be performed to repair the damage.
What are the functions of intervertebral discs?
The intervertebral discs have the following functions: They provide cushioning for the vertebrae and reduce the stress caused by impact. By keeping the vertebrae separated from each other, they act as a type of shock absorber for the spine. They help protect the nerves that run down the spine and between the vertebrae .
Why do my discs shrink?
In some individuals, the spine degenerates as they get older and causes spinal stenosis, which causes the discs to shrink in size. The discs are also vulnerable to arthritis, which can wear away the cartilage between the vertebrae and cause back pain.
What are the pads between the vertebrae called?
Between the individual vertebrae in the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar regions (not in the sacrum and coccyx) are oval shaped pads made of fibrocartilage called intervertebral discs. The discs have a tough outer covering of cartilage that provides support (the annulus fibrosus) and a soft, jellylike center that provides the cushioning ...
Why do discs help with herniated discs?
The discs function to cushion the spine and reduce the stress caused by impact. They also provide some flexibility, allowing us to bend over at the waist. The intervertebral discs are vulnerable to injury and can rupture under stress, which causes a herniated disc to form.
How many vertebrae are there in the human spine?
The human spine is made out of a series of interconnected bones called vertebrae. You have a total of 33 vertebrae in your spine. These vertebrae are identified by the region of the neck and back in which they are located. Starting from the neck and going down, humans have seven vertebrae in their neck (cervical), 12 vertebrae in the middle of their back (thoracic), five vertebrae in their lower back (lumbar), five vertebrae that are fused together to make the sacrum, and finally four fused vertebrae that make up the coccyx or coccygeal vertebrae (what we refer to as the tail bone).
How to treat herniated discs?
Treatment for herniated discs can be as simple as rest and allowing it to heal, taking anti-inflammatory medication to reduce the swelling, and, in some extreme cases, surgery can be performed to repair the damage. Disease. The discs are also vulnerable to disease in some people.
What is IVD regeneration?
IVD regeneration is a broad concept that may be interpreted in different perspectives, from the repair of the IVD tissues to the functional reestablishment of the interactions between the IVD and adjacent structures in the spine ( Whatley and Wen, 2012 ). The repair of IVD tissues, aiming to relieve pain and allow movement, through minimal invasive therapies such as ozonetherapy, may work towards IVD regeneration, but only approach one part of the problem ( Alexandre et al., 2005; Eder et al., 2013; Lehnert et al., 2012 ). One of the major challenges starts by integrating such partial approaches into a comprehensive strategy for IVD regeneration.
What is intervertebral disc replacement?
Intervertebral disc replacements are designed to help restore appropriate anatomy and function of the degenerated spine. Several distinct designs have been developed for intervertebral disc replacement (Vital and Boissiere, 2014 ). Most are based on the concept of articulation to allow motion in the interbody space with two articulating surfaces, much like a total hip or knee replacement. At least one design was developed to better mimic the natural intervertebral disc in which a solid, energy-absorbing interface was placed between two endplates that connected to the bone. The implants can incorporate constrained or unconstrained designs.
What is the function of the intervertebral disc?
The intervertebral disc (IVD) is a fibro-cartilaginous structure serving as shock absorbing system of the spine, to protect the vertebral bodies (VBs), the spinal cord, and other structures, providing both flexibility and load support.
Overview
An intervertebral disc (or intervertebral fibrocartilage) lies between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column. Each disc forms a fibrocartilaginous joint (a symphysis), to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, to act as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together, and to function as a shock absorber for the spine.
Structure
Intervertebral discs consist of an outer fibrous ring, the anulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis, which surrounds an inner gel-like center, the nucleus pulposus. The anulus fibrosus consists of several layers (laminae) of fibrocartilage made up of both type I and type II collagen. Type I is concentrated toward the edge of the ring, where it provides greater strength. The stiff laminae can withstand compressive forces. The fibrous intervertebral disc contains the nucleus pulposus an…
Function
The intervertebral disc functions to separate the vertebrae from each other and provides the surface for the shock-absorbing gel of the nucleus pulposus. The nucleus pulposus of the disc functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each intervertebral disc under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of large vacuolated notochord cells, small chondrocyte-like cells, collagen fibrils, and aggrecan, a proteoglycan that aggregates by binding to
Clinical significance
Anything arising from the intervertebral disc may be termed discogenic in particular when referring to associated pain as discogenic pain.
A spinal disc herniation, commonly referred to as a slipped disc, can happen when unbalanced mechanical pressures substantially deform the anulus fibrosus, allowing part of the nucleus to obtrude. These events can occur during peak physical performance, during traumas, or as a resu…
Etymology
The Latin word anulus means "little ring"; it is the diminutive of anus ("ring"). The misspelling annulus is also common.
See also
• Back pain
• Degenerative disc disease
• Spinal decompression
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
External links
• Intervertebral Discs
• Spinal Disc Summary
• Cross section image: pembody/body12a—Plastination Laboratory at the Medical University of Vienna