Simulated in vivo loading response of the nucleus and the annulus of the human spinal disc

摘要

The human spinal disk's response was studied at simulated in vivo loads. The intervertebral and the intradiscal transducers were used to map the pressures around the annulus fibrosus and in the nucleus pulposus of the spinal disk of a lumbar functional unit. The results show that, for normal disks, the pressures generated around the annulus fibrosus and in the nucleus pulposus are linearly related to each other and to the applied compressive load. Strains generated around the periphery of the vertebral body are also linearly related to the applied load.