Intervertebral Disc Flashcards
How many true IVD identified in an adult?
23
What maintains the height of the cervical intervertebral disc?
Uncinate process
What is the effect of aging on the IVD nucleus pulposus?
it becomes more fibrous as water and proteoglycan concentrations diminish
What is the water concentration in the lumbar nucleus pulposus at birth and after 30?
Birth: 88%
After 30: 70%
What is the consequence of non-aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?
the nucleus pulposus will lose water under deformation conditions
what cell is associated with Nucleus pulposus until about age 11?
Notochord cells
Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?
collagen type II
What is unusual about the cervical annulus fibrosus?
It lacks lamellar or layered organization, it is interweaved instead
What is the water concentration in the lumbar annulus fibrosus at birth and after 30?
Birth: 78%
After 30: 70%
What is the consequence of aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?
the annulus fibrosus will retainwater under deformation conditions
Which type of collagen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?
Collagen Type I
What is the principal type of collagen within the cartilage end plate?
Collagen Type II
What is the earliest indicator of intervertebral disc pathology or degeneration?
changes in the histology of the cartilage end plate
What part of the IVD is the “growth plate”?
transition zone
What part of the cervical IVD is highly innervated?
The middle third of the annulus fibrosus
What are the types of receptor endings in the IVD?
Nociceptors and proprioceptors
What is the relationship between the size of the IVD and receptor endings?
larger disc, greater variety of receptor endings
What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the IVD?
Recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral nerve
What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?
fibers from the ventral primary ramus
What are the functions of the IVD?
attach vertebral bodies to each other
separate vertebral bodies from each other
help shape the spine
act as a ligament
form part of the anterior boundary of the vertebral column and intervertebral foramen
function as a shock absorber
distribute weight over maximum surface area
In what regions of the vertebral column is the space formed between the vertebral bodies by the IVD the greatest?
Cervical and Lumbar Regions
Which curve direction is associated with the greatest space observed between the vertebral bodies?
Lordotic or anterior curves
How does the intervertebral disc help shape the spine?
the anterior height is greater than the posterior height in the cervical and lumbar regions creating a Lordotic or anterior curve
