BACKGROUND: Studies demonstrated that vertebral endplate can be remodeled during intervertebral disc degeneration.However,the relationship between morphology of the vertebral endplate and intervertebral disc degeneration remains poorly understood.OBJECTIVE: To explore the relationship between the morphology of the vertebral endplate and the lumbar disc herniation.METHODS: Forty cases without previous spine disorder and sixty-two cases symptomatic lumbar disc herinations lumbar vertebral were scanned by using spiral CT.Scan range was from superior L4 to superior S2.Scan protocols as below: 140 kV,345 mAs,FOV 160 mm,layer of thick 1 mm,pitch 1.0.Original images were carried through three-dimensional reconstructions using O2 image work station,W300,C80,ZOOM=1.5,Expand 1.Intervertebral disc maximum anteroposterior,transverse diameter,circumference,area and shape were measured based on curve planar reconstruction.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Endplate shape was strongly related to disc herniation(all the P value < 0.01).Endplate area was a less significant factor L4/5 in men and L5/S1 in men and females(P < 0.05).The shape of the intervertebral body endplate margin is an important factor contributing to the development of disc herniation at L4/5 and L5/S1.