Vertebral body endplates

Vertebral body endplates form the interface between the vertebral bodies and the adjacent intervertebral discs. They are constituted peripherally by an epiphyseal bone ring and centrally by a cartilaginous layer. The cartilaginous layer is related to the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus and has important role in intervertebral disc nutrition .

History and etymology

Although now generally considered as part of the vertebral body, historically they had been grouped with the intervertebral disc .