Comparison of aggregate modulus HA (A) and permeability k (B) of bovine CEP determined in this study (CEP-Central and CEP-Lateral) and bovine IVD tissue found in the literature (NP and AF) (Perie et al., 2005). For the aggregate modulus, a significant regional variation was detected in the CEP between the central and lateral regions (*p<0.0001; Central: n=14; Lateral: n=18). The aggregate modulus of the CEP in the central and lateral regions were comparable with that of the NP and AF, respectively ([*]
p < 0.05 (Perie et al., 2005)). For hydraulic permeability, no significant regional variations were detected in the CEP between the central and lateral regions (p=0.071). Compared with that in the NP and AF (Perie et al., 2005), the permeability in the CEP is found to be much smaller.