Intervertebral discs lie in between adjacent vertebrae in the spine. They are a cartilaginous joint, and allow movement of the vetebrae. A diagram of a thoracic vertebra. ... The vertebral column seen from the side The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ... This article is about a joint in zootomical anatomy. ...

They consist of an outer annulus fibrosus, which surrounds the inner nucleus pulposus.

The nucleus pulposus is very fluid (like jelly), and acts like air in a pneumatic tyre. It can also shift slightly within the disc, depending on how the back is angled. Jelly is a sweet or savoury food gel, usually made through the addition of gelatin or pectin. ... Firestone tire A tire (U.S. spelling) or tyre (UK spelling) is a roughly toroidal piece of (usually) rubber placed on a wheel to cushion it. ...

The annulus fibrosus consists of several layers of fibrocartilage, with the fibres of each layer running perpendicular its neighbours. (So it forms a criss-cross pattern). This is designed to be very strong. Cartilage is type of dense connective tissue. ...

As people age, the annulus fibrosus gets weaker, and the pulposus can herniate through it. This is called a slipped disc, and the nuclear pulposus may press against nerve roots, causing radicular pain. A hernia is the protrusion of an organ or tissue out of the body cavity in which it normally lies. ... Slipped disc (medical term: prolapsed intervertebral disc) is a condition in which, due to a tear in the outer fibrous ring, the central part of the intervertebral disc is protruding into the spinal canal. ... Radicular Pain is pain experienced along the dermatome (or sensory distribution) of a nerve due to pressure on the nerve root. ...

There is one disc between each pair of vertebrae, increasing in size with the largest located at the base of the spine. As with vertebrae, there are 7 cervical, 12 thoracic, and 5 lumbar discs. A common problem often associated with a fall, car accident, or improper bending/lifting can result in the tearing, herniation (swelling), displacement (slippage), or shattering of these discs. Sometimes an afflicted person will feel pain only at the spot of the injury, however others expierence other symptoms. All along the spine, bundles of nerves protrude out to different organs, tissues, extremities etc. It is very common in such injuries for the disc to press against these nerves (pinched nerve) causing radiating pain, numbness, tingling, diminished strength and/or range of motion. Any of these symptoms can be present alone or in various combinations. Often the afflicted individual will feel a sharp pain or numbness in their leg up to two feet from the spinal cord, yet the cause is a pinched nerve in the lumbar region. The same is possible in the arms, hands, feet shoulders, neck and face. Discs can cause more severe issues when they pinch off nerves leading to organs. A common symptom of a lumbar disc injury is diminshed capacity of the bladder or bowel. The vertebral column seen from the side The vertebral column (backbone or spine) is a column of vertebrae situated in the dorsal aspect of the abdomen. ...

See also

• Lordosis