Intervertebral surface

The intervertebral surface of a vertebra faces the adjacent vertebra (upper or lower). They are separate from the adjacent vertebra by the intervertebral disc.

The vertebral endplates are thin layers of cartilage and bone that cover the superior and inferior surfaces of the vertebral bodies. They play a crucial role in the distribution of mechanical loads and the nutrition of the intervertebral discs. The endplates are integral to the structural integrity of the spine and are involved in the attachment of the intervertebral discs to the vertebrae