The distribution of axial stress on the end-plate of the vertebral body has been measured by the aid of miniature piezoelectric pressure transducers in specimens of motion segments of the human vertebral column. The results indicate that the stress distribution depends essentially on the state of degeneration of the intervertebral disc and on the relative position of the adjacent end-plates. Furthermore lumbar and thoracic motion segments show a different behaviour. The measured results relate to the problem of the stress dependent deformation of the growing vertebra, the codfish shape of the osteoporotic vertebra and to the mechanism of degeneration of the intervertebral disc.