what does annular fissure mean
A bulging annulus means the edge of the disc adjacent to the spine (usually) has bulged posteriorly and may dent or impinge upon the spinal sac, the nerve roots, or the spinal cord. An annular fissure is a crack or tear or the disc annulus (the outer coating of the disc, as opposed to the center part (nucleus)
What is a Disc Tear? A disc or annular-tear (or fissure) represents a degenerative or traumatic change in an interveterbral disc1. These tears involve separations or breaks in the fibers comprising the annulus fibrosus, or the fibrous outer-most portion of an intervertebral disc.