Intervertebral Disc

Question 1

How many true IVD identified in an adult?

Answer 1

23

Question 2

What maintains the height of the cervical intervertebral disc?

Answer 2

Uncinate process

Question 3

What is the effect of aging on the IVD nucleus pulposus?

Answer 3

it becomes more fibrous as water and proteoglycan concentrations diminish

Question 4

What is the water concentration in the lumbar nucleus pulposus at birth and after 30?

Answer 4

Birth: 88%

After 30: 70%

Question 5

What is the consequence of non-aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar nucleus pulposus?

Answer 5

the nucleus pulposus will lose water under deformation conditions

Question 6

what cell is associated with Nucleus pulposus until about age 11?

Answer 6

Notochord cells

Question 7

Which type of collagen is dominant in the nucleus pulposus?

Answer 7

collagen type II

Question 8

What is unusual about the cervical annulus fibrosus?

Answer 8

It lacks lamellar or layered organization, it is interweaved instead

Question 9

What is the water concentration in the lumbar annulus fibrosus at birth and after 30?

Answer 9

Birth: 78%

After 30: 70%

Question 10

What is the consequence of aggregated glycosaminoglycans in the lumbar annulus fibrosus?

Answer 10

the annulus fibrosus will retainwater under deformation conditions

Question 11

Which type of collagen is dominant in the annulus fibrosus?

Answer 11

Collagen Type I

Question 12

What is the principal type of collagen within the cartilage end plate?

Answer 12

Collagen Type II

Question 13

What is the earliest indicator of intervertebral disc pathology or degeneration?

Answer 13

changes in the histology of the cartilage end plate

Question 14

What part of the IVD is the “growth plate”?

Answer 14

transition zone

Question 15

What part of the cervical IVD is highly innervated?

Answer 15

The middle third of the annulus fibrosus

Question 16

What are the types of receptor endings in the IVD?

Answer 16

Nociceptors and proprioceptors

Question 17

What is the relationship between the size of the IVD and receptor endings?

Answer 17

larger disc, greater variety of receptor endings

Question 18

What innervates the annulus fibrosus at the posterior part of the IVD?

Answer 18

Recurrent meningeal/sinu-vertebral nerve

Question 19

What forms the anterior neural plexus of the vertebral column?

Answer 19

fibers from the ventral primary ramus

Question 20

What are the functions of the IVD?

Answer 20

attach vertebral bodies to each other
separate vertebral bodies from each other
help shape the spine
act as a ligament
form part of the anterior boundary of the vertebral column and intervertebral foramen
function as a shock absorber
distribute weight over maximum surface area

Question 21

In what regions of the vertebral column is the space formed between the vertebral bodies by the IVD the greatest?

Answer 21

Cervical and Lumbar Regions

Question 22

Which curve direction is associated with the greatest space observed between the vertebral bodies?

Answer 22

Lordotic or anterior curves

Question 23

How does the intervertebral disc help shape the spine?

Answer 23

the anterior height is greater than the posterior height in the cervical and lumbar regions creating a Lordotic or anterior curve