Intervertebral Disc: Innervation

Question 1

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated?

Answer 1

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus

Question 2

What part of the cervical intervertebral disc is highly innervated?

Answer 2

the middle third of the annulus fibrosus

Question 3

What are the types of receptor endings in the intervertebral disc?

Answer 3

• nociceptors

- proprioceptors

Question 4

What morphological classifications of receptor endings are present in the intervertebral disc?

Answer 4

• free nerve endings
• Pacinian corpuscles
• Golgi tendon organs
• Ruffini endings
• Meissner’s corpuscles

Question 5

What is the relationship between size of the intervertebral disc and receptor endings?

Answer 5

the larger the disc, the greater the variety of receptor endings

Question 6

What is the proposed function of receptor ending density in the anterior part of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 6

they provide feedback during extension

Question 7

Other than receptor endings, what type of innervation is present in the intervertebral disc?

Answer 7

vasomotor postganglionic sympathetic nerve fibers to blood vessels

Question 8

What are the sources of innervation of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 8

• the sinu-vertebral nerve (sinus vertebral nerve, recurrent meningeal nerve)
• fibers from the ventral primary ramus
• fibers from the white ramus communicans
• fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
• fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 9

What nerves have been shown to give off the sinus vertebral/sinu-vertebral/recurrent meningeal nerve?

Answer 9

• the mixed spinal nerve
• ventral primary ramus
• dorsal primary ramus
• gray ramus communicans
• white ramus communicans

Question 10

The recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve has typically been shown to originate from which source?

Answer 10

the gray ramus communicans

Question 11

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

Answer 11

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

Question 12

What is innervated by the recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve?

Answer 12

• the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the intervertebral disc
• the posterior longitudinal ligament
• dura mater plus vessels and connective tissue of the epidural space

Question 13

What forms the posterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 13

recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral/sinus vertebral nerve

Question 14

What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 14

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 15

What forms the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 15

• fibers from the ventral primary ramus
• fibers from the white ramus communicans
• fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
• fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 16

What neural plexuses are formed, in part, by fibers from the ventral primary ramus?

Answer 16

the lateral and anterior neural plexuses of the vertebral column

Question 17

What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the anterior part of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 17

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 18

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the ventral primary ramus?

Answer 18

the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the anterior and lateral part of the intervertebral disc

Question 19

What neural plexus is formed, in part, by fibers from the white ramus communicans?

Answer 19

the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column

Question 20

What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 20

• fibers from the ventral primary ramus
• fibers from the white ramus communicans
• fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
• fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 21

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the white ramus communicans?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

What is the name given to the white ramus communicans which becomes embedded within the annulus fibrosus of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 22

the paradiscal ramus communicans

Question 23

What neural plexus is formed, in part, by fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans?

Answer 23

the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column

Question 24

What innervates the outer lamellae of the annulus fibrosus at the lateral part of the intervertebral disc?

Answer 24

• fibers from the ventral primary ramus
• fibers from the white ramus communicans
• fibers from the paradiscal ramus communicans
• fibers from the gray ramus communicans

Question 25

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

Answer 25

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

Question 26

What neural plexus is formed, in part, by fibers from the gray ramus communicans?

Answer 26

the lateral neural plexus of the vertebral column

Question 27

What part of the intervertebral disc is innervated by fibers from the gray ramus communicans?

Answer 27

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