Determination of collagen fibril orientation in the cartilage of vertebral end plate.

X-Ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy show that collagen fibrils tend to be oriented parallel to the surface of the vertebral end plates in pig, rat and man. It is suggested that this orientation allows the end plate to withstand the pressure exerted on it by the nucleus pulposus. Scanning electron microscopy shows that lamellae occur in human end plates. Collagen fibrils also tend to be preferentially aligned in the direction of the ventral-dorsal axis.