What is the main function of the facet joint?

Facet joints are synovial joints. These joints allow flexion (bend forward), extension (bend backward), and twisting motion. Certain types of movement are restricted. The spine is made more stable due to the interlocking nature to adjacent vertebrae.

What is the function of the facets of the thoracic vertebrae?

Distinguishing features. Distinguishing features of the thoracic vertebrae include the presence of facets on the sides of the bodies for articulation with the heads of the ribs, and facets on the transverse processes of all, except the 11th and 12th vertebrae, for articulation with the tubercles of the ribs.

Are there facet joints in the thoracic spine?

All thoracic vertebral levels consist of three joints. There is one joint consisting of the intervertebral discs which connect the bodies of the vertebra. There are also two posterior and lateral joints with one on each side called facet joints.

What are the facets of the thoracic vertebrae?

The primary characteristic of the thoracic vertebrae is the presence of costal facets. There are six facets per thoracic vertebrae: two on the transverse processes and four demifacets—the facets of the transverse processes articulate with the tubercle of the associated rib.

What is a vertebrae facet?

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 does a facet do?

Facets are synovial joints that are lined with cartilage, lubricated in synovial fluid and covered by a joint capsule. Healthy facet joints glide and slide as the back moves, but prevent over-twisting. Figure 1. Side view of the spine shows a normal disc and facet joint (top).

What does thoracic vertebrae articulate with?

Thoracic Vertebrae Each thoracic vertebra articulates with a pair of ribs. Each rib end articulates with demifacets above and below the discs to form synovial costovertebral joints as well as the thoracic transverse processes to form costotransverse joints.

What is special about thoracic vertebrae?

Thoracic vertebrae are unique among the bones of the spine in that they are the only vertebrae that support ribs and have overlapping spinous processes. They form the region of the spinal column inferior to the cervical vertebrae of the neck and superior to the lumbar vertebrae of the lower back.

What is a thoracic facet joint?

Thoracic facet joints are small joints located in pairs in your mid-back. These joints provide stability and guide motion in your spine. Facet joints provide stability and guide motion in your spine.

How does facet joint pain feel like?

Typically, facet joint pain feels like a dull ache, localized to one area of the spine. The pain may be experienced on one or both sides, and often in the lower back or neck. Movements toward the affected joint will cause pain.

How do facet joints work?

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.

How many facet joints does the vertebrae have?

Also known as the zygapophyseal or apophyseal joint, is a synovial joint between the superior articular process of one vertebra and the inferior articular process of the vertebra directly above it. There are two facet joints in each spinal motion segment.

How does the facet joint of the thoracic spine work?

Facet joint. These functions can be disrupted by degeneration, dislocation, fracture, injury, instability from trauma, osteoarthritis, and surgery. In the thoracic spine the facet joints function to restrain the amount of flexion and anterior translation of the corresponding vertebral segment and function to facilitate rotation.

What are the functions of the facet joints?

The biomechanical function of each pair of facet joints is to guide and limit movement of the spinal motion segment. In the lumbar spine, for example, the facet joints function to protect the motion segment from anterior shear forces, excessive rotation and flexion.

Which is part of the vertebra contains the facet joint?

The facet joint is the joint between the inferior articular process (labeled at bottom) and the superior articular process (labeled at top) of the subsequent vertebra. Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebrae and their ligaments.

Where are the demifacets of the thoracic vertebrae located?

The demifacets are bilaterally paired and located on the superior and inferior posterolateral aspects of the vertebrae. They are positioned so that the superior demifacet of inferior vertebrae articulates with the head of the same rib that articulates with the inferior demifacet of a superior rib.