Annulus fibrosus disci intervertebralis
Cervical vertebra with intervertebral disc. (Disc annulus labeled at bottom right, and is visible at center in blue.)
Stages of Spinal Disc Herniation
Gray's	subject #72 289

Each intervertebral fibrocartilage is composed, at its circumference, of laminæ of fibrous tissue and fibrocartilage, forming the annulus fibrosus.

[edit] Spelling notes

Both "anulus" and "annulus" are acceptable spellings. Gray's Anatomy uses "annulus fibrosus," Terminologia Anatomica uses "anulus fibrosus," and Nomina Anatomica uses both forms. Etymologically speaking, anulus is the correct spelling as it is the diminutive of L. anus, a ring, hence anulus, a little ring. A Google search indicates that "annulus fibrosus" is the most common usage.

"Fibrosus" has no correct alternative spelling; "fibrosis" has a different meaning and is incorrect in this context. ^[1]

[edit] References

1. ^ Fardon DF (2001). "Nomenclature and classification of lumbar disc pathology". Spine 26 (5): 461–2. PMID 11242371. http://www.asnr.org/spine_nomenclature/. 

[edit] External links

• Duke Orthopedics annulus_fibrosus
• anulus+fibrosus+of+intervertebral+disc at eMedicine Dictionary
• Diagram at upenn.edu
• Diagram at spineuniverse.com

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This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained within it may be outdated.

v • d • e Joints and ligaments of torso (TA A03.02-04, GA 3.299) Vertebral column Syndesmosis articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament · posterior longitudinal ligament articulations of vertebral arches: ligamenta flava · supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) · interspinal ligament · intertransverse ligament Synchondrosis intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus) Synovial joint Atlanto-axial (lat + med) capsule · atlantoaxial ligaments (anterior, posterior) · Cruciate ligament of atlas (Transverse ligament of atlas) Alar ligament · Apical ligament of dens · Tectorial membrane of atlanto-axial joint Zygapophysial no ligaments Lumbosacral iliolumbar ligament Sacrococcygeal anterior sacrococcygeal ligament · posterior sacrococcygeal ligament Thorax Costovertebral articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament · interarticular ligament costotransverse: Lumbocostal ligament Sternocostal interarticular sternocostal ligament · radiate sternocostal ligaments · costoxiphoid ligaments Interchondral no ligaments Costochondral no ligaments Pelvis Syndesmoses of pelvic girdle Obturator membrane · Obturator canal Pubic symphysis superior pubic ligament · inferior pubic ligament Sacroiliac anterior sacroiliac ligament · posterior sacroiliac ligament · interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament · sacrospinous ligament Greater sciatic foramen · Lesser sciatic foramen