ARUP; ISBN: 978-0-9562121-5-3 - CMBBE 2012 - Cardiff University

of five points across the mid mid-coronal slice) as observed for the specimen experimentally
(24% ±5%).
4. RESULTS
4.1 Imaging Results
The µCT scan data shows clear geometrical data of the bony components of the
specimen. Of particular interest to this study is the topography of the bony end pl plates
which are captured with a high level of detail, as illustrated in Figure 2.
Figure 2 - µCT slice in the axial plane (left) taken through the L1 vertebra and in the corona coronal plane
(right) showing bo bony vertebral end plates and disc space.
The MRI sequences successfully showed the geometry and structural details of interest
in the IVD, as shown in Figure 3. In the NP scan, the bright area in the centre of the
IVD is taken to be the NP and the NP/AF transition zone, due to the short echo time
used. The bright and dark bands observed in the AF scan are assumed to be individual
lamellae. The approximate thickness of 0.2mm of each bright and dark band
agreement with the lamellar thickness found histological studies 6 successfully showed the geometry and structural details of interest
he bright area in the centre of the
the NP and the NP/AF transition zone, due to the short echo time
used. The bright and dark bands observed in the AF scan are assumed to be individual
bright and dark band, is in
.
Figure 3 - MRI slice in the axial plane taken through the disc prior to loading. Left: NP sequence sequence, the NP
is shown bright, the AF is dark dark, right: AF sequence, individual lamellae ae can be identified identified.
Following compression sion of the specimen a change in the geometry of the tissue was
observed, as illustrated in Figure 4. The NP was compressed and had become
elongated. The curvature of the lamellae chan changed markedly. The outer AF was
concave in the preloaded image and convex in the loaded image. Measurements easurements were