A computational measurement of cartilaginous endplate structure using ultrashort time-to-echo MRI scanning

Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders, and it has been considered as one possible cause of low back pain. In the IVD, cartilaginous endplate (CEP) is a thin layer of hyaline cartilage positioned between the bony endplate and nucleus pulposus [1]. It prevents the bulging of the nucleus pulposus into the neighboring vertebral bodies and disperses the compressive loading experienced by the vertebra-disc complex [2]. Importantly, CEP acts as a selectively permeable barrier for nutrient transport into the intervertebral disc (IVD) in which most of the cells are nourished by this pathway [3].
Source: Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine - Category: Bioinformatics Authors: Source Type: research