ANNULUS FIBROSUS

1. Concentric layers of fibrocartilage around the nucleus pulposis.
2. Outer fibres (called Sharpey’s fibres) insert into peripheral margin of endplate and also fuse with ALL, PLL vertebral body periosteum.

In children:

1. The annulus attaches to a ring apophysis which is a growth centre around the margins of the endplates.
2. Annulus attaches to bone of the apophysis, deep to which is cartilage and deep to that is the vertebral body ( see image).
3. The importance of this structure becomes apparent when we will go over the limbus vertebrae.

THE ENDPLATE

The endplate of the vertebrae consists of two layers

1. Cartilage: Forms the interface between the disc and bone. Thicker in children and progressively thins. Cant be differentiated from disc on MRI.
2. Bone

NUCLEUS PULPOSIS

1. Central portion of disc surrounded by annulus
2. High fluid content in children progressively decreases with age.

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Image Above: Ut