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A typical vertebra, with the exception of the sacrum and coccyx, consists of a body, a vertebral arch, and seven different projections termed processes. The anterior portion of the vertebrae, the body, supports about half the body’s weight. The vertebral bodies progressively increase in size and thickness from the cervical region to the lumbar region of the vertebral column. The intervertebral discs present between the bodies of adjacent vertebrae firmly unites them, forming a continuous...
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Transition Zone

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The cross-sectional anatomy of the spinal cord offers a detailed view of its complex structure and function within the central nervous system. At the core of the spinal cord lies the gray matter, characterized by its butterfly or "H"-shaped appearance in cross-section. This central region is enveloped by white matter, with the overall structure divided into symmetrical halves by the dorsal median sulcus and the ventral median fissure.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 9, 2025

Optical Sectioning and Visualization of the Intervertebral Disc from Embryonic Development to Degeneration
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Structure-function characterization of the transition zone in the intervertebral disc.

Melika Mirzaeipoueinak1, Haim S Mordechai2, Saie Sunil Bangar1

  • 1School of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, University of Technology Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia.

Acta Biomaterialia
|February 22, 2023
PubMed
Summary

This study characterizes the transition zone (TZ) of the intervertebral disk (IVD), revealing its unique mechanical properties and integration mechanisms with the nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF). Findings advance IVD tissue engineering and low back pain research.

Keywords:
Energy absorptionIntervertebral diskStiffnessStructural integrationStructure-function relationshipTZ collagen fibersTZ elastic fibersTransition zone

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Area of Science:

  • Biomaterials Science
  • Biomechanics
  • Tissue Engineering

Background:

  • The intervertebral disk (IVD) comprises nucleus pulposus (NP) and annulus fibrosus (AF) regions, extensively studied for mechanical and structural properties.
  • The NP-AF interface, or transition zone (TZ), remains under-characterized, hindering a complete understanding of IVD structure-function relationships.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the cyclic and failure mechanical properties of the IVD's transition zone (TZ) under physiological loading.
  • To investigate the structural integration mechanisms between the NP, TZ, and AF regions.

Main Methods:

  • Mechanical testing of the TZ, NP, and AF regions at varying strain rates (1, 3, and 5%s⁻¹).
  • Analysis of structural integration mechanisms, including fiber adaptation, penetration, and entanglement.

Main Results:

  • Significant effects of region (NP, TZ, AF) and strain rate on stiffness were observed (p < 0.001).
  • Annulus fibrosus (AF) exhibited significantly higher energy absorption than TZ and NP (p < 0.001).
  • Adaptation, direct penetration, and entanglement were identified as key mechanisms for TZ-AF structural integration.

Conclusions:

  • The TZ possesses distinct mechanical properties compared to NP and AF, crucial for IVD function.
  • Understanding TZ mechanical properties and integration mechanisms is vital for developing effective IVD tissue engineering strategies and computational models for low back pain.