Nucleus pulposus
| Nucleus pulposus | |
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| Cervical vertebra with intervertebral disc. (Nucleus pulposus labeled at center right, and is visible at center in light blue.) | |
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| Stages of Spinal Disc Herniation | |
| Gray's | subject #17 82 |
| Precursor | notochord |
Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of the spinal disc. It is the remnant of the notochord[1] . It functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each disc under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of chondrocyte-like cells, collagen fibrils, and proteoglycan aggrecans that aggregate through hyaluronic chains. Attached to each aggrecan molecule are the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chains of chondroitin sulfate and keratan sulfate.[2]Aggrecan is negatively charged and hydrophilic. This property allows it to draw water into the Nucleus Pulposus.
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[edit] See also
[edit] Additional images
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Sagittal section through an intervertebral fibrocartilage and adjacent parts of two vertebræ of an advanced sheep’s embryo.
[edit] References
- ^ McCann, Matthew; Owen J. Tamplin, Janet Rossant and Cheryle A. Séguin (25). "Tracing notochord-derived cells using a Noto-cre mouse: implications for intervertebral disc developmen". Disease Models & Mechanisms. doi:10.1242/dmm.008128. http://dmm.biologists.org/content/early/2011/11/01/dmm.008128.long.
- ^ See Figure 1 in US patent application 2007/0003525.
- ^ Link to referenced patent application.
[edit] External links
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