Intervertebral Disc: Cartilaginous End Plate and Transition Zone

Question 1

what is the cartilage end plate derived from

Answer 1

epiphyseal plate

Question 2

what is the thinnest part of the cartilage end plate

Answer 2

central part, over the nucleus pulposus

Question 3

part of the vertebral body that the cartilage end plate WILL cover

Answer 3

cancellous bone at the top or bottom of the vertebral body

Question 4

part of the vertebral body upper and lower surfaces the cartilage end plate WILL NOT cover

Answer 4

epiphyseal rim

Question 5

attachment site for collagen fibers of the inner lamellae of the annulus fibrosus

Answer 5

cartilaginous end plate

Question 6

cell type is associated with the cartilage end plate

Answer 6

chondrocytes

Question 7

earliest indicator of intervertebral disc pathology or degeneration

Answer 7

changes in the histology of the cartilage end plate

Question 8

what is the area of maximum metabolic activity in the intervertebral disc

Answer 8

transition zone

Question 9

part of the intervertebral disc that is innervated

Answer 9

outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus

Question 10

part of the cervical intervertebral disc that is highly innervated

Answer 10

middle third of the annulus fibrosus

Question 11

types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc

Answer 11

nociceptors and proprioceptors

Question 12

the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings

Answer 12

larger the disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings

Question 13

recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve originate from which source

Answer 13

gray ramus communicans

Question 14

part of the intervertebral disc innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve

Answer 14

outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosis at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc

Question 15

forms the ANTERIOR neural plexus of the vertebral column

Answer 15

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 16

forms the POSTERIOR neural plexus of the vertebral column

Answer 16

fibers from the ventral primary ramus,
fibers from the white ramus communicans,
fibers from the paradisal ramus communicans,
fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 17

name given to the white ramus communicants which becomes embedded within the annulus fibrosis of the intervertebral disc

Answer 17

paradiscal ramus communicans

Question 18

what part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans

Answer 18

outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosis at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc

Question 19

principle type of collagen fibers within the cartilage end plate

Answer 19

type II collagen fiber

Question 20

direction of collagen fibers within the cartilage end plate

Answer 20

collagen fibers are aligned anterior to posterior