Basic Biomechanics 5th Edition by Susan Hall

Exercise 20

In the nucleus pulposus of an intervertebral disc, the compressive load is 1.5 times the externally applied load. In the annulus fibrosus, the compressive force is 0.5 times the external load. What are the compressive loads on the nucleus pulposus and annulus fibrosus of the L5-S1 intervertebral disc of a 930 N man holding a 445 N weight bar across his shoulders, given that 37% of body weight is distributed above the disc?