What is a facet joint in anatomy?
What is a facet joint in anatomy?
Facet joints are pairs of small joints in between the vertebrae in the back of the spine. These joints have opposing surfaces of cartilage, which limits friction between the bones. The joint is surrounded by a capsule filled with a small amount of synovial fluid.
What is the function of facet joints?
Facet Joints Definition. Small joints located between and behind adjacent vertebrae. There are two facet joints at each level of the vertebral column, providing stability to the spinal column while allowing movement. They are found at every spinal level, except at the top level of the cervical spine.
How many facet joints are in the spine?
There are two facet joints in each spinal motion segment and each facet joint is innervated by the recurrent meningeal nerves….
| Facet joint | |
|---|---|
| TA98 | A03.2.06.001 |
| TA2 | 1707 |
| FMA | 10447 |
| Anatomical terminology |
What are facet joints in the spine?
A joint connects two or more bones in your body and functions to promote motion. In your spine, the joints connecting each of your vertebrae are known as facet joints. Other names for facet joints include zygapophyseal or apophyseal joints, or your doctor may refer to them as simply facets.
Where are my facet joints?
facet joints: joints located on the top and bottom of each vertebra that connect the vertebrae to each other and permit back motion. joint capsule: a sac surrounding a synovial joint.
What are facets in the body?
The spine, much like any other part of the body’s skeleton, has joints – in the spine, these joints are called facets. Also known as zygapophyseal joints[1], facets run the length of the spine and are what we feel popping when one “cracks” their neck or back.
What type of movement do facet joints allow?
Facet joints help the spine to bend, twist, and extend in different directions. Although these joints enable movement, they also restrict excessive movement such as hyperextension and hyperflexion (i.e. whiplash). Each vertebra has two sets of facet joints.
Are facet joints the same as discs?
Discs sit between the vertebral bodies and act as shock absorbers. Facet joints are the joints in the spine where movement occurs.
Can facet joints heal themselves?
Facet pain is usually worse with activities that cause movement of the spine such as bending, twisting and lifting. Facet pain lasting longer than 2 weeks usually will not go away on its own and requires treatment.
How do you treat an inflamed facet joint?
Facet Joint Arthritis: Nonsurgical Treatment Options
- Rest and activity modification.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy.
- Immobilization (a brace)
