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Updated: May 29, 2026

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration
Published on: July 8, 2021
Structure and biology of the intervertebral disk in health and disease
Wilson C W Chan1, Kit Ling Sze, Dino Samartzis
1Department of Biochemistry, The University of Hong Kong, LKS Faculty of Medicine, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Abstract:
The intervertebral disks along the spine provide motion and protection against mechanical loading. The 3 structural components, nucleus pulposus, annulus fibrosus, and cartilage endplate, function as a synergistic unit, though each has its own role. The cells within each of these components have distinct origins in development and morphology, producing specific extracellular matrix proteins that are organized into unique architectures fit for intervertebral disk function. This article focuses on various aspects of intervertebral disk biology and disruptions that could lead to diseases such as intervertebral disk degeneration.
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