in-vivo MR-Imaging of the Endplates of the Lumbar Spine

Klaus M. Friedrich¹, Sebastian Apprich¹, Sonja M. Walzer², Stefan Zbn¹, Vladimir Juras¹, Iris Nbauer-Huhmann¹, Siegfried Trattnig¹

Annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus, and the endplates are the major structural components of the intervertebral discs. In this study endplates were identified side by side on both, histological and MR images. Additionally, in-vivo visualization of the endplates on dedicated MR images and correlated with disc degeneration and Schmorl nodes on conventional MR images.