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Nucleus pulposus

 

 
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Nucleus pulposus
 
 
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Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of the spinal disc. It is the remnant of the notochord
Notochord

The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cell s derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo....
. It functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each disc
Annulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis

Each intervertebral fibrocartilage is composed, at its circumference, of lamin? of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage, forming the annulus fibrosus....
 under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of chondrocyte
Chondrocyte

Chondrocytes are the only cells found in cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans....
s, collagen
Collagen

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content....
 fibrils, and proteoglycan
Proteoglycan

File:PBB Protein ACAN image.jpgProteoglycans represent a special class of glycoproteins that are heavily glycosylation. They consist of a core protein with one or more covalent bond attached glycosaminoglycan chain....
 aggrecan
Aggrecan

Aggrecan, or large aggregating proteoglycan, is a proteoglycan, or a protein modified with carbohydrates; the human form of the protein is 2316 amino acids long and can be expressed in multiple isoforms due to alternative splicing....
s that have hyaluronic long chain
Hyaluronan

Hyaluronan is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective tissue, epithelial tissue, and neural tissues. It is one of the chief components of the extracellular matrix, contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration, and may also be involved in the progression of some malignant tumors....
s which attract water. Attached to each hyaluronic chain are side chains of chondroitin sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate

Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan composed of a chain of alternating sugars . It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan....
 and keratan sulfate
Keratan sulfate

Keratan sulfate , also called keratosulfate, is any of several Sulfuric_acid glycosaminoglycans that have been found especially in the cornea, cartilage, and bone....
.








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Nucleus pulposus is the jelly-like substance in the middle of the spinal disc. It is the remnant of the notochord
Notochord

The notochord is a flexible, rod-shaped body found in embryos of all chordates. It is composed of cell s derived from the mesoderm and defines the primitive axis of the embryo....
. It functions to distribute hydraulic pressure in all directions within each disc
Annulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis

Each intervertebral fibrocartilage is composed, at its circumference, of lamin? of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage, forming the annulus fibrosus....
 under compressive loads. The nucleus pulposus consists of chondrocyte
Chondrocyte

Chondrocytes are the only cells found in cartilage. They produce and maintain the cartilaginous matrix, which consists mainly of collagen and proteoglycans....
s, collagen
Collagen

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content....
 fibrils, and proteoglycan
Proteoglycan

File:PBB Protein ACAN image.jpgProteoglycans represent a special class of glycoproteins that are heavily glycosylation. They consist of a core protein with one or more covalent bond attached glycosaminoglycan chain....
 aggrecan
Aggrecan

Aggrecan, or large aggregating proteoglycan, is a proteoglycan, or a protein modified with carbohydrates; the human form of the protein is 2316 amino acids long and can be expressed in multiple isoforms due to alternative splicing....
s that have hyaluronic long chain
Hyaluronan

Hyaluronan is a non-sulfated glycosaminoglycan distributed widely throughout connective tissue, epithelial tissue, and neural tissues. It is one of the chief components of the extracellular matrix, contributes significantly to cell proliferation and migration, and may also be involved in the progression of some malignant tumors....
s which attract water. Attached to each hyaluronic chain are side chains of chondroitin sulfate
Chondroitin sulfate

Chondroitin sulfate is a sulfated glycosaminoglycan composed of a chain of alternating sugars . It is usually found attached to proteins as part of a proteoglycan....
 and keratan sulfate
Keratan sulfate

Keratan sulfate , also called keratosulfate, is any of several Sulfuric_acid glycosaminoglycans that have been found especially in the cornea, cartilage, and bone....
.

See also

  • Annulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis
    Annulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis

    Each intervertebral fibrocartilage is composed, at its circumference, of lamin? of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage, forming the annulus fibrosus....
  • Spinal disc herniation
    Spinal disc herniation

    A spinal disc herniation ', incorrectly called a "slipped disc", is a medical condition affecting the Vertebral column, in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc ' allows the soft, central portion to hernia....


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