Cervical Spine Pathology Intervertebral Disc Annular Circumferential Tear physical therapy 3D animations. Maximal or repetitive sub-maximal stresses on the cartilage endplate, which sits between the intervertebral disc and the adjacent vertebral body, can damage this endplate. <br /><br />Endplate damage can lead to fluid loss from the nucleus pulposus of the disc and a decrease in the nucleus' ability to absorb stress. The soft gel-like nucleus becomes drier and stiffer, more like crab-meat, as seen in these physical therapy 3D animations. <br /><br />DISC TEAR<br />This in turn increases the stress through the posterior annulus and can lead to internal annulus tears that can be radial and/or circumferential. These tears can irritate the nerves in the outer annulus and cause pain.<br /><br />The disc's attempts to repair the tear may stimulate nerves to grow into the tear. Cervical Spine Pathology Intervertebral Disc Annular Circumferential Tear physical therapy 3D animations.
