The disc is the shock absorber that sits between the two adjacent vertebral bodies. It maintains stability while allowing for movement between the bones. The disc is made up of an inner jelly-like substance called the nucleus pulposus, and a tough outer ring called annulus fibrosis. When the annulus fibrosis sustains a tear, which can occur acutely in an injury or gradually with degenerative changes, this allows the inner nucleus pulposus to protrude (or herniate). Typically, this occurs in a posterior direction towards the neurological structures of the spine. In the cervical spine this can lead to compression of the nerve root (radiculopathy) or of the spinal cord (cervical myelopathy), and the presentation for each is different but can occur together.