What kind of structure is the intervertebral disc and what is its main function The entire spine consists of 32 vertebrae, one of the main structures connecting the spine is the intervertebral disc, which is about 30% of the thickness of the vertebral body and has three parts: the central part is the water-rich nucleus pulposus structure, the surrounding part is composed of three layers of fibrous collagen arranged crosswise, and the cartilage end plate covering the vertebral body below. The average thickness is 1 mm, which is the pathway for the water and wire products of the nucleus pulposus. The structure of the nucleus pulposus makes it a good structure to resist pressure, and the annulus fibrosus is a structure to resist tension. The main functions of the intervertebral disc are: 1, connecting the upper and lower vertebrae, maintaining a certain degree of mobility of the intervertebral space; 2, adapting to changes in the physiological curvature of different parts, and maintaining the normal physiological curvature of the spine; 3, playing the role of a spring cushion, can be deformed under pressure, can evenly transfer the load to the surrounding, absorbing spinal shock, such as human bouncing and other strenuous activities, through the transfer of force and its own deformation cushion pressure, to protect the spinal cord and other organs Protect the spinal cord and other organs; 4, maintain the height of the intervertebral space, maintain the height and intervertebral foramen height, to prevent the narrowing of the intervertebral space, resulting in ligamentous folds around the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen height decline caused by nerve root compression; 5, the intervertebral disc with age under the action of a variety of factors, its morphological composition will change, such as fetal and early childhood nucleus pulposus water accounted for 80%, gradually reduced in adulthood, maintaining the compressive stress The intervertebral height decreases, and its biomechanical properties change.