# intervertebral disc

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/intervertebral-disc
Updated: 2026-08-02

## Definition

a pad of tough tissue that sits between the bones of your spine. It acts like a shock absorber to protect your back when you move.

For teachers: a fibrocartilaginous structure positioned between adjacent vertebral bodies in the spinal column. It functions as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together and as a shock absorber to protect the nerves and spinal cord.

## Examples

- Lifting heavy boxes incorrectly can damage an intervertebral disc.
- The doctor explained that the patient's back pain was caused by a slipped intervertebral disc pressing against a nerve.
- Chronic degeneration of an intervertebral disc often leads to reduced mobility and may require physical therapy or surgical intervention to alleviate persistent neural compression.

## Usage notes

- Commonly shortened to 'disc' in clinical or informal medical contexts when the spinal location is already established.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.