Nucleus pulposus

Nucleus pulposus is the inner core of the vertebral disc. It contains a large amount of water, proteins, and sugars, which give it a gel-like consistency. The nucleus pulposus acts as a shock absorber, distributing forces evenly across the disc.

Structure

The nucleus pulposus is located in the center of the vertebral disc and is surrounded by the annulus fibrosus. It is composed of water, collagen, and proteoglycans. The high water content gives the nucleus pulposus its gel-like consistency and allows it to resist compression. The collagen and proteoglycans provide structural support.

Function

The primary function of the nucleus pulposus is to distribute forces evenly across the disc. When pressure is applied to the spine, the water within the nucleus pulposus moves in a way that helps to evenly distribute the load. This helps to prevent damage to the disc and surrounding structures.

Clinical significance

Damage or degeneration of the nucleus pulposus can lead to a number of conditions, including disc herniation, disc degeneration, and spinal stenosis. These conditions can cause pain, numbness, and other symptoms.

See also

• Intervertebral disc
• Spinal disc herniation
• Spinal stenosis

References

Nucleus pulposus Resources
Need Help Finding a Doctor? Need help finding a doctor or specialist anywhere in the world? Explore our world directory. WikiMD's DocFinder can assist you in locating millions of physicians.	Medical Knowledge Access the latest research - Most recent articles Ongoing trials.

Translate to: East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski