Breakdown of the four groups of parameters used for the scoring system
| AF, annulus fibrosus; NP, nucleus pulposus. | |
| Loss of demarcation between NP and AF | |
| 0 | Clear demarcation |
| 1 | Limited loss of demarcation |
| 2 | Substantial loss of demarcation |
| 3 | Complete loss of demarcation |
| Loss of proteoglycan from NP | |
| 0 | No loss of haematoxophilia |
| 1 | Limited loss of haematoxophilia |
| 2 | Substantial loss of haematoxophilia |
| 3 | Complete loss of haematoxophilia |
| Presence and extent of fissures | |
| 0 | No fissures |
| 1 | Fissures present within NP |
| 2 | Fissures extending to junction of NP and AF |
| 3 | Fissures extending to within AF |
| Cell cluster formation | |
| 0 | No cell clusters |
| 1 | Less than 25% of cells formed into clusters |
| 2 | 25–75% of cells formed into clusters |
| 3 | Over 75% of cells formed into clusters |