Figure 3

Diagram of vertebral body growth including that from the neurocentral synchondroses (neurosomatic growth cartilages); the latter are shown by the smallest arrows as growing postero-laterally. The increase in dimensions of the vertebral body shown as a concentric (ellipsoid) simulates radial vertebral body growth. It is proposed that the increased girth of the vertebral body leads to increased axial loading indicated by the weights of the larger arrows placed above and below it.