Structure, functions and role of endplates in the development of degenerative diseases of the spine: a literature review

Abstract

The endplate is crucial for maintaining normal functioning of a healthy intervertebral disc. It provides structural support of the spine and regulates the flow of nutrients and the metabolic processes in the disc. With age and in the pathogenesis of diseases, the cartilage undergoes degeneration and calcification thus disrupting the access of nutrients to the cells and altering the biochemical and morphological structure of the endplate and metabolic processes throughout the disc. A number of evidences points to the existence of the endplate innervation, so its damage can be a source of chronic low back pain. The presented literature review highlights the questions of anatomy and physiology of vertebral endplates and describes relationships between changes in their morphological and molecular structures and degenerative lesion of intervertebral discs and chronic back pain syndrome. The material of the study included abstracts of articles from the PubMed database, articles published in The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Spine, European Spine Journal and in other journals over the past 15 years. If necessary, books and articles of previous years were used.