Zygapophysial joint

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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

• Articular processes
• Zygapophysis

External links

• Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_bone28 - "Lumbar Vertebral Column, Posterolateral View"
• Diagram at spineuniverse.com
• Diagram at necksurgery.com

v • d • e Joints and ligaments of torso
Vertebral column	articulations of vertebral bodies: anterior longitudinal ligament - posterior longitudinal ligament - intervertebral disc (annulus fibrosus, nucleus pulposus) articulations of vertebral arches : ligamenta flava - supraspinous ligament (nuchal ligament) - interspinal ligament - intertransverse ligament zygapophysial joint
Costovertebral	articulation of head of rib: radiate ligament - interarticular ligament costotransverse
Sternocostal	interarticular sternocostal ligament - radiate sternocostal ligaments - costoxiphoid ligaments interchondral, costochondral
Pelvis	articulation of the vertebral column with the pelvis: iliolumbar ligament sacroiliac: anterior sacroiliac ligament - posterior sacroiliac ligament - interosseous sacroiliac ligament ligaments connecting the sacrum and ischium: sacrotuberous ligament - sacrospinous ligament sacrococcygeal symphysis: anterior sacrococcygeal ligament - posterior sacrococcygeal ligament pubic symphysis: superior pubic ligament - inferior pubic ligament

hu:Articulationes zygapophysiales

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Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .