annulus fibrosus

noun

annulus fi·​bro·​sus -fī-ˈbrō-səs, -fi- How to pronounce annulus fibrosus (audio)
variants also anulus fibrosus
: a ring of fibrous tissue (such as that surrounding a heart valve)
especially : the outer portion of an intervertebral disc that surrounds the nucleus pulposus and is composed chiefly of layers of collagen fibers
Disks between the vertebrae have a soft center—a nucleus pulposus—and a tougher exterior, annulus fibrosus. Matthew Sturdevant, The Hartford (Connecticut) Courant

Dictionary Entries Near annulus fibrosus

Cite this Entry

“Annulus fibrosus.” Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/annulus%20fibrosus. Accessed 6 Dec. 2024.

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