The aims of the study were i) to develop a finite element model of a functional spinal unit(FSU) without ligaments at cervical region, ii)to simulate different material properties of intervertebral disc for analysingdegeneration and iii) to investigatethe influence of disc degeneration on the biomechanical behaviour of a motion. Todo so, two-dimensional computed tomography images of spine recorded fromvolunteer was converted into three-dimensional vertebrae model with different materialproperties section by section. Material properties of intervertebral disc aredescribed nonlinear in finite element analysis. Moment was applied on superior endplateof vertebrae as 7.5 Nm. The boundary condition was described on the endplate of adjacent inferior vertebrae as fixed inspace. Stress distribution over the nucleus and motions of thefunctional spinal unit were calculated using finite element analysis. The resultswere compared with physiological motions of functional spinal unit from literature.At the result, more realistic result of disc model was obtained by fluid filledcavity model with regard to maximum stress value on disc and intradiscalpressure. The fluid in the shell simulate incompressible feature like reality.