Anatomy of Nucleus Pulposus
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56981/Keywords:
Intervertebral disc degeneration; Hydrogel; Mesenchymal stem cells; Nucleus pulposus regeneration; NeuroinflammationAbstract
The nucleus pulposus is the soft, gelatinous central portion of the intervertebral disk. The nucleus pulposus affords disk mobility and its ability to absorb mechanical energy under compressive loading. Intervertebral disk moves within the disk with changes in posture [1,33]. In the normal disk, the nucleus pulposus moves anteriorly with lumbar extension and frequently communicates with the epidural space and surrounding structures. In a study of methylene blue injection into the nucleus, 14% of 105 disks showed leaks, with 93% of the leaks located in the posterolateral region lateral to the posterior longitudinal ligament (PLL). Injected dye showed contact with the adjacent root in 27% of the leaks.
Elastin fibers of the nucleus pulposus are oriented radially and axially, an orientation that is ideal for the restoration of a deformed disk because of bending. The ability of the nucleus pulposus to resist compression is related to the ability of its proteoglycan composition to retain water. This ability decreases with disk age and the decline of its aggrecan content
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