Figure 2.

Sample preparation and allocation. Bone‐disc‐bone specimens were cut from the posterior and anterior annulus regions to include both outer and inner annulus fibrosus (AF). A thin sagittal slice was cut for sagittal‐plane histology and SEM, while the bulk sample was scanned with μCT and mechanically tested. Failure surfaces were scanned with SEM. Note that annulus fibers of the outer AF attach directly to the vertebra, while those in the inner AF attach to the cartilage endplate (denoted by pink line).