An , also known as an annular fissure, is a deficiency or separation in the outer layers of the intervertebral disc, specifically the annulus fibrosus . While often asymptomatic and found incidentally on imaging, these tears can be a significant source of "discogenic" low back pain due to local inflammation or irritation of adjacent nerve roots. Etiology and Pathophysiology
Annular tears typically result from three primary factors: (e.g., car accidents), repetitive mechanical stress (e.g., heavy lifting or twisting), and natural age-related degeneration . Annular Disc Tear - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf annular disc tear