The vertebral endplate serves as an interface between the bone of the vertebral body and the disc. The vertebral endplate plays two key roles.
- Protects the vertebral bone from fracture.
- Facilitates the transfer of blood between vertebral capillaries and disc cells.
The endplate is a layer made up of cartilage and bone. The cartilage portion of the endplate is comprised of chondrocytes, proteoglycans, collagen, and water. The bone portion of the vertebral endplate is composed of trabecular bone and osteocytes (bone cells).
FAQ
The vertebral endplate is a layer of tissue between the disc and the vertebral body (bone). It is made up of cartilage and trabecular bone. The endplate protects the vertebral bone from fracture and facilitates the transfer of blood between vertebral capillaries and disc cells.
A fibrovascular reactive change is a type I vertebral bone marrow change, also known as a type I Modic change. A fibrovascular reactive change involves inflammation and disruption of the endplate with vascularized granulation tissue within the bone marrow of the vertebra.
Depression of the endplate is usually indicative of an endplate fracture.
This is describing inflammation and disruption of the vertebral endplate and vertebral body. It represents a bone marrow lesion and would likely be classified as a Modic type I change.
