What is the intervertebral discs?

interfertebral disk or discus intervertralis is a structure consisting of a fibrocartilage located between the vertebrae, the bone of the vertebral column or spine. The intervertebral discs are used to hold the vertebrae together, padding the spine and allowing the spine to move. Each intervertebral disk forms a cartilage joint.

There are two main parts on the intervertebral disk, the outer ring fibrosus and the inner pulposus. Nucleus pulposus consists of free collagen fibers in a mucoprotein gel, causing flexible consistency. The consistency of jelly -like pulposus core provides the spine absorption and flexibility of shock. Anulus fibrosus consists of layers of fibrocartilage and provides protection and shape of intervertebral discs.

There are 23 intervertebral discs in the human spine. With the exception of the joint between the first two bones of the spine, atlas and axis, each of the bones in the spine is separated by a vertebral disk. The joint between the atlas and the axis allows a different type of movement than the other giantThick joints, namely swivel neck movement. Atlas is a ring -shaped bone that orbits the conical axis.

There are a number of health problems that can affect vertebral discs. The prolamed disk, also called the spinal disk or the slip disk, is a health condition in which the pulposus core is pushed from the center of the intervertebral wheel through the tear in the fibros ring. A prolated disk can lead to pain, numbness or tingling similar to limb pain that "falls asleep", muscular weakness, paralysis or damaged reflexes. However, there may be no symptoms depending on the location of the prolapsed disk.

prolamed discs often recover themselves, THV serious cases may be required surgery to repair the intervertebral disc. Surgery is usually the last option. Spine herniation can be treated more conservatively using anti -inflammatory drugsPain or steroids, physical therapy and lifestyle modification such as weight loss and smoking.

Another health condition affecting intervertebral discs is the degenerative disease of the disk (DDD), in which the core of the pulposus dehydrates as one aging. Interfertebral dishydration of discs is a normal part of the aging process and only some people have adverse symptoms associated with it. Such symptoms may include pain, tingling, weakness and impaired movement. Degenerative disk disease can be treated with physical therapy, chiropractor, painkillers or in severe cases by surgical intervention.