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Intervertebral Disc Information

Intervertebral discs (or intervertebral fibrocartilage) lie between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. Each disc forms a cartilaginous joint to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.

Contents

Structure

Discs consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner nucleus pulposus. The annulus fibrosus consists of several layers of fibrocartilage. The strong annular fibers contain the nucleus pulposus and distribute pressure evenly across the disc. The nucleus pulposus contains loose fibers suspended in a mucoprotein gel with the consistency of jelly. The nucleus of the disc acts as a shock absorber, absorbing the impact of the body's daily activities and keeping the two vertebrae separated. The disc can be likened to a jelly doughnut: whereby the annulus fibrosis is similar to the dough and the nucleus pulposis is the jelly. If one presses down on the front of the doughnut the jelly moves posteriorly or to the back. When one develops a prolapsed disc the jelly/nucleus pulposus is forced out of the doughnut/disc and may put pressure on the nerve located near the disc. This can give one the symptoms of sciatica.

Cervical vertebra with intervertebral disc

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. 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). For example, the disc between the fifth and sixth cervical vertabrae is designated "C5-6".

Intervertebral disks

Medical conditions related to the intervertebral disc

Main article: Intervertebral disc disorder

As people age, the nucleus pulposus begins to dehydrate, which limits its ability to absorb shock. The annulus fibrosus gets weaker with age and begins to tear. While this may not cause pain in some people, in others one or both of these may cause chronic pain.

See also

Additional images

External links

Joints and ligaments of torso (TA A03.02–04, GA 3.299)
Vertebral
Syndesmosis
Of vertebral bodies anterior longitudinal ligament · posterior longitudinal ligament
Of vertebral arches ligamenta flava · supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) · interspinal ligament · intertransverse ligament
Symphysis intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus)
Synovial joint
Atlanto-axial

median: Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) · Alar ligament · Apical ligament of dens · Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint

lateral: no ligaments

anterior atlantoaxial ligament · posterior atlantoaxial ligament
Zygapophysial no ligaments
Lumbosacral iliolumbar ligament
Sacrococcygeal anterior sacrococcygeal ligament · posterior sacrococcygeal ligament
Thorax
Costovertebral
Head of rib Radiate ligament · Intra-articular ligament
Costotransverse Costotransverse ligament · Lumbocostal ligament
Sternocostal interarticular sternocostal ligament · radiate sternocostal ligaments · costoxiphoid ligaments
Interchondral no ligaments
Costochondral no ligaments
Pelvis
Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle Obturator membrane · Obturator canal
Pubic symphysis superior pubic ligament · inferior pubic ligament
Sacroiliac

anterior sacroiliac ligament · posterior sacroiliac ligament · interosseous sacroiliac ligament

ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament · sacrospinous ligament

Greater sciatic foramen · Lesser sciatic foramen

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