Does the nucleus pulposus surround the annulus fibrosus?
The annulus fibrosus is the tough circular exterior of the intervertebral disc that surrounds the soft inner core, the nucleus pulposus. This outer portion is composed of a ring of ligament fibers that encases the inner core of the disc and securely connects the spinal vertebrae above and below the disc.
Does the nucleus pulposus resist compression?
The matrix of the nucleus pulposus is highly adapted to bind water, generate oncotic pressure, and by doing so, provide resistance to strong compressive loads.
What type of cells are in the nucleus pulposus?
At least two distinct cell types have been demonstrated to reside in the nucleus pulposus in humans, chondrocyte-like cells and larger cells that have been referred to classically as “notochordal cells.” In addition to being larger than chondrocyte-like cells, notochordal cells have been reported to contain large …
What in the disc is produced by the nucleus and is water loving?
The nucleus pulposus is the gel-like inner layer of the disc. This “gel” is made of water and proteoglycans, and it is the part of the disc that most absorbs and cushions your movements.
How does nucleus pulposus receive nutrients?
Cells inside the nucleus pulposus (NP) mainly rely on nutrient transport to and from the vertebral capillaries9,10, which can be compromised by several factors. The vertebral capillaries penetrate pores in the bony endplate and terminate adjacent to the cartilage endplate11,12 (CEP; Figure 1).
What is nucleus pulposus made of?
Nucleus pulposus is the inner core of the vertebral disc. The core is composed of a jelly-like material that consists of mainly water, as well as a loose network of collagen fibers. The elastic inner structure allows the vertebral disc to withstand forces of compression and torsion.
What is the function of nucleus pulposus?
What is difference between annulus fibrosus and 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 type of collagen is nucleus pulposus?
collagen II
The nucleus pulposus is rich in collagen II, but it also contains collagen I, VI, and IX (Eyre and Muir 1976 , 1977 ; Wu et al. 1987 ; Eyre et al. 2002 ). Collagens I and II constitute about 80 % of the collagens in the disc (Eyre and Muir 1977 ) (for details of the collagen species, see Box 5.2).
What is the purpose of nucleus pulposus?
What is the function of the nucleus pulposus?
The nucleus pulposus is located in the spine, between two vertebrae, where it plays a major role in providing the spine with shock absorption during movement. It prevents bone to bone contact, reducing the possibility of injuries and pain.