- Anatomy of The Spine
- Back Pain in Children
- Caring for your Spine
- Emerging Spinecare Trends
- Evaluation of Spinal Disorders
- Exercise and The Spine
- Intervention - Spinal Disorders
- Intervertebral Disc
- Non Surgical Options
- Nutrition and Spinecare
- Options for Spine Treatments
- Pregnancy and Back Pain
- Prevalence of Spine Disorders
- Sleep and the Spine
- Spinecare Introduction
- Spinehealth and Disease
- Surgical Interventions
- Treatment with Medications
- Understanding Back Pain
Spinecare Topics
The Vertebral Endplate
The vertebral
endplates are comprised of a relatively thin layer of cartilage that lies
between the disc and the vertebral body.
Endplates are approximately 1 mm thick along the periphery and are
somewhat thicker within their central portions.
The vertebral endplate is made up of two types of cartilage. The vertebral endplates help prevent the
undersurface of the vertebral bodies from becoming damaged due to sustained and
heavy loads. If sustained pressure is applied directly to bone, it can result
in a loss of bone integrity with resultant fracture.
The
intervertebral disc can herniate (rupture) through a weakened area of an
endplate. This is referred to as a
Schmorl’s node. With advancing age, the
vertebral endplates begin to calcify and stiffen which contributes to
degeneration of the intervertebral disc.
