Zygapophysial joint
| Zygapophysial joint | |
|---|---|
 | |
| A thoracic vertebra. (Superior labeled at top; inferior labeled at bottom.) | |
 | |
| Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebræ and their ligaments. | |
| Latin | articulationes zygapophysiales |
| MeSH | zygapophyseal+joint |
| Dorlands/Elsevier | a_64/12161688 |
A zygapophysial joint (zygapophyseal, or facet joint) is a synovial joint between the superior articular process of one (lower) vertebra and the inferior articular process of the adjacent (higher) vertebra. There are two facet joints in each vertebral motion segment.
The biomechanical function of each pair of facet joints is to prevent excessive torsion (twisting) of the spine, while allowing a small amount of lateral bending and flexion and extension. These functions can be disrupted by degeneration, dislocation, fracture, and/or instability of the facet joints from trauma, osteoarthritis, and/or surgery.
See also
External links
- Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_bone28 - "Lumbar Vertebral Column, Posterolateral View"
- Diagram at spineuniverse.com
- Diagram at necksurgery.com
 | This musculoskeletal system article is a stub. You can help WikiDoc by expanding it. |
hu:Articulationes zygapophysiales
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