What has articular facets face superior inferior?
The bodies of the lumbar vertebrae are massive, sturdy, and designed to withstand vertical compression. The spinous processes are broad and thick so stabilizing muscles can attach. The superior articular facets face inward (medially) and the inferior articular facets face outward (laterally).
What are the superior and inferior articular facets of the vertebral column?
The superior facets face medially, and the inferior facets face laterally. This changes at the lumbosacral junction, where the apophyseal joint moves into the frontal plane and the inferior facet on L5 faces front. This change in orientation keeps the vertebral column from sliding forward on the sacrum.
Where is articular facets located?
The facet joints are situated between the pedicle and lamina of the same vertebra and form the articular pillars that act to provide structural stability to the vertebral column as a whole.
What is the superior articular facet?
The superior articular facet faces upward and works like a hinge with the inferior articular facet (below). Like other joints in the body, each facet joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and produces synovial fluid to nourish and lubricate the joint.
What are articular facets?
A facet is a flat or nearly flat surface on a bone. The vertebral articular facets are where two vertebrae articulate. There will be one pair of facets on the superior side of the vertebrae and one pair on the inferior side of the vertebrae.
What is articular facet?
What is the superior and inferior articular surfaces?
The inferior articular processes run downward and slightly laterally from the laminae. Their articular surfaces face ventrolaterally to the superior articular facets of the vertebrae below them. The articular plane is curvilinear.
What does superior articular facet mean?
[TA] the articular surface of the inferior articular processes of vertebrae, articulating with the inferior articular facet of the vertebra above to form a zygapophysial joint. Synonym(s): facies articularis superior vertebrae [TA]
What is superior articular facet?
What is facet of superior articular process?
The superior articular processes project vertically upward from the articular pillars between the pedicles and the laminae. The concave facet of each superior articular process faces dorsomedially to the inferior articular facets of the vertebra above it (Fig. 3-21).
What are symptoms of facet joint problems?
Symptoms of Lumbar Facet Joint Disorders
- Localized pain. A dull ache is typically present in the lower back.
- Referred pain. The pain may be referred to the buttocks, hips, thighs, or knees, rarely extending below the knee.
- Radiating pain.
- Tenderness on palpation.
- Effect of posture and activity.
- Stiffness.
- Crepitus.