Nucleus pulposus
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
The nucleus pulposus is the central part of each intervertebral disc.
Gross anatomy
It is located within the annulus fibrosus and between the vertebral body endplates. It is composed of a thin lattice of collagen fibres (type II) which traverse though hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans.
With ageing and degeneration the glycosaminoglycans are replaced with fibrocartilage and the collagen type II replaced with type I (same as the annulus fibrosus).
Disc desiccation is not responsible for disc height loss, as the nucleus polposus volume remains the same with aging, but rather due to annular bulging and end plate bowing.
Blood supply
- nil
- receives: receives nutrition via diffusion across the vertebral body endplates
Nerve supply
- none
Radiological appearance
MRI
- high content of water which gives a normal disc its characteristic high T2 signal on MRI
- loss of high T2 signal is due to disc desiccation
Related pathology
-<p>The <strong>nucleus pulposus</strong> is the central part of each <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>It is located within the <a href="/articles/annulus-fibrosus">annulus fibrosus</a> and between the <a href="/articles/vertebral-body-endplates">vertebral body endplates</a>. It is composed of a thin lattice of collagen fibres (type II) which traverse though hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans. </p><p>With ageing and degeneration the glycosaminoglycans are replaced with fibrocartilage and the collagen type II replaced with type I (same as the annulus fibrosus).</p><p>Disc desiccation is not responsible for disc height loss, as the nucleus polposus volume remains the same with aging, but rather due to annular bulging and end plate bowing. </p><h4>Blood supply</h4><ul><li>nil - receives nutrition via diffusion across the vertebral body endplates</li></ul><h4>Nerve supply</h4><ul><li>none</li></ul><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul>- +<p>The <strong>nucleus pulposus</strong> is the central part of each <a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc">intervertebral disc</a>.</p><h4>Gross anatomy</h4><p>It is located within the <a href="/articles/annulus-fibrosus">annulus fibrosus</a> and between the <a href="/articles/vertebral-body-endplates">vertebral body endplates</a>. It is composed of a thin lattice of collagen fibres (type II) which traverse though hydrophilic glycosaminoglycans. </p><p>With ageing and degeneration the glycosaminoglycans are replaced with fibrocartilage and the collagen type II replaced with type I (same as the annulus fibrosus).</p><p>Disc desiccation is not responsible for disc height loss, as the nucleus polposus volume remains the same with aging, but rather due to annular bulging and end plate bowing. </p><h4>Blood supply</h4><ul><li>nil: receives nutrition via diffusion across the vertebral body endplates</li></ul><h4>Nerve supply</h4><ul><li>none</li></ul><h4>Radiological appearance</h4><h5>MRI</h5><ul>
-<a href="/articles/lumbar_disc_disease">lumbar disc disease</a><ul><li><a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc-disease-nomenclature">intervertebral disc disease nomenclature</a></li></ul>- +<a href="/articles/lumbar-disc-disease">lumbar disc disease</a><ul><li><a href="/articles/intervertebral-disc-disease-nomenclature">intervertebral disc disease nomenclature</a></li></ul>
Systems changed:
- Spine
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