Molecular basis of intervertebral disc degeneration.

This review will acquaint the reader with normal development, structure, and function of the intervertebral disc. The disc is composed of the vertebral endplate, nucleus pulposus, and annulus fibrosus. These three functional components all serve important purposes for health and function of the disc. Nutrition and biomechanics are also discussed. The molecular basis of disc degeneration is reviewed so that biologic approaches to the reversal and or treatment of disc degeneration may be better understood.