Which area of the intervertebral disc is most susceptible to desiccation?

Which area of the intervertebral disc is most susceptible to desiccation?

• A. Nucleus Pulposus
• B. Annulus Fibrosus
• C. Cartilaginous End Plate
• D. Outer Fibrous Ring

Answer: (A)

The nucleus pulposus is the part of the disc most prone to desiccation because it is a highly hydrated, gelatinous center rich in proteoglycans that attract and retain water. This high water content gives the nucleus its hydrostatic pressure, helping the disc resist compressive loads. As aging or degeneration reduces proteoglycan content, the osmotic gradient that holds water in the nucleus diminishes, so the nucleus loses water more readily than other disc components. The annulus fibrosus is more fibrous and less hydrated, the cartilaginous end plate mainly serves as a diffusion route for nutrients rather than a water reservoir, and the outer fibrous ring (the annulus) is dense and fibrous with less free water. All of this makes the nucleus pulposus the area most susceptible to desiccation.

The nucleus pulposus is the part of the disc most prone to desiccation because it is a highly hydrated, gelatinous center rich in proteoglycans that attract and retain water. This high water content gives the nucleus its hydrostatic pressure, helping the disc resist compressive loads. As aging or degeneration reduces proteoglycan content, the osmotic gradient that holds water in the nucleus diminishes, so the nucleus loses water more readily than other disc components. The annulus fibrosus is more fibrous and less hydrated, the cartilaginous end plate mainly serves as a diffusion route for nutrients rather than a water reservoir, and the outer fibrous ring (the annulus) is dense and fibrous with less free water. All of this makes the nucleus pulposus the area most susceptible to desiccation.