An analytical model of intervertebral disc mechanics

Abstract

The intervertebral disc is a complex mechanical structure, and it is important to understand the loading of specific structures which might cause damage leading to failure or mechanical impairment. At present it is only possible to model such internal loadings owing to the extreme technical difficulties involved in experimental measurement. The simple analytical model described in this paper makes exact predictions of the loads carried by fibres and also their path within the annulus fibrosus, without pre-defi…