Intervertebral disc facts for kids
An intervertebral disc is a kind of padding between vertebrae in the vertebral column. They are shock absorbers in the spine, and are very important to the health of the spine. The disc is a fibrocartilaginous joint. It allows slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.
Discs have an outer fibrous ring, made up of both type I and type II collagen. Type I is concentrated towards the edge of the ring where it provides greater strength. The fibrous intervertebral disc contains the nucleus pulposus and this helps to distribute pressure evenly across the disc.
The nucleus pulposus contains loose fibers suspended in a mucoprotein gel. The nucleus of the disc acts as a shock absorber, absorbing impacts and keeping the two vertebrae separated. It is the remnant of the notochord.
Images for kids
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Stages of spinal disc herniation
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Micrograph showing a fragment of an intervertebral disc demonstrating degenerative fibrocartilage with loss of nuclei and nests of chondrocytes, as seen in degenerative disc disease. HPS stain.
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Anulus fibrosus.
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Artificial intervertebral disc.
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Posterior longitudinal ligament, in the thoracic region.
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Median sagittal section through the occipital bone and first three cervical vertebrae.
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Costovertebral articulations. Anterior view.
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Polarised light microscopy image of the annulus fibrosus, showing the concentric layers of fibrous tissue.
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See also
In Spanish: Disco intervertebral para niños
