Definitions

1. Facet joints are the main "hinges" in our backs, allowing the muscles and vertebrae to move properly.
2. Facet joints are small joints that connect the back of the spine together. (Web site)
3. Facet joints are located at the posterior (back) aspect of the spine. (Web site)
4. Facet joints are small joints connecting each vertebra in the back that allow movement.
5. Facet joints are articulations between two adjacent vertebrae.

Inferior Articular Facets

1. Two superior articular facets of lower vertebra and two inferior articular facets of higher vertebra form two facet joints.

Facet Joint Arthritis

1. This increases pressure on the facet joints and can cause pain if there is facet joint arthritis. (Web site)

Spinal Facet Joints

1. Between the vertebrae are the intervertebral discs and the spinal facet joints. (Web site)

Source

1. When your doctor thinks the facet joints are a major source of your pain, he may use the term "facet joint syndrome".
2. Arthritis of the lumbar facet joints can be a source of significant low back pain. (Web site)

Main

1. Sometimes the facet joints are the main cause of back pain.

Means

1. Facet joints have been shown to be a source of chronic spinal pain by means of diagnostic techniques of known reliability and validity.

Inflammation

1. This type of pain occurs when injury to the spine's discs, facet joints, ligaments, or muscles results in inflammation.

Causing

1. When this occurs, the intervertebral discs shrink the facet joints are jammed together and inflammation ensues, causing pain.
2. In many cases, the facet joints are at least part of what is causing your back pain.

Injection

1. Only a neurosurgeon, orthopedist, or rheumatologist trained in injection of the facet joints should attempt injection, and then only under fluoroscopy.

Surfaces

1. The surfaces of the facet joints are covered with smooth cartilage that help these parts of the vertebral bodies glide smoothly on each other. (Web site)

Adjacent

1. This part of the vertebra is called the pars or pars interarticularis, meaning the part of the vertebra between the adjacent two facet joints.

Region

1. Overall, facet joints were painful in at least one region of the spine in 43%, in at least two regions in 15%, and in all three regions in 2% of patients.

Compression

1. Emotional tension causes increased compression of the lumbar facet joints and posterior disc fibers. (Web site)

Orientation

1. Anatomical variations in the orientation, shape, or asymmetry of the facet joints make degeneration more likely that lead to nerve root compression. (Web site)

Allowing

1. Synovium -a thin membrane that produces fluid to lubricate the facet joints, allowing them to move easily.

Flexibility

1. Without the facet joints, you would not have flexibility in your spine, and you could only move in very straight and stiff motions.
2. The facet joints link the vertebrae together and give them the flexibility to move against each other.

Inflamed

1. The facet joints (also called vertebral joints) become inflamed and progressive joint degeneration creates more frictional pain.

Osteoarthritis

1. Degenerative spondylolisthesis (slippage of one vertebra over another) is caused by osteoarthritis of the facet joints.

Spinal Canal

1. If there are bone spurs present on the facet joints behind the bulging disc, the combination may cause narrowing of the spinal canal in that area.

Nerves

1. Radiofrequencies are being used to destroy nerves involved in the facet joints (or z-joints), which connect the vertebrae.

Disc

1. As the disc begins to collapse and the space between the vertebrae narrows, the facet joints may become inflamed.
2. Motion between vertebrae occurs through the disc and two facet joints. (Web site)
3. When the vertebra slips forward, it puts a painful strain on the disc and facet joints. (Web site)

Low Back

1. Facet joint syndrome is the term used to describe low back pain that comes from the facet joints of the spine. (Web site)

Lumbar Spine

1. When the facet joints of the lumbar spine move together, they bend and turn the low back. (Web site)
2. The facet joints in the lumbar spine allow for considerable amounts of flexion but a much lesser degree of extension and rotation. (Web site)
3. The psoas can pull the spine downward, compressing the facet joints and the intervertebral discs of the lumbar spine. (Web site)

Articular Cartilage

1. As these joints are forced together, extra pressure builds on the articular cartilage on the surface of the facet joints. (Web site)
2. The surfaces of the facet joints are covered by articular cartilage. (Web site)

Body

1. Like any joint in the body, facet joints can cause pain if they are irritated or inflamed.
2. To make up for the lost cartilage, your body may respond by growing new bone in your facet joints to help support the vertebrae. (Web site)

Pedicles

1. The nerve root canal, also called the lateral recess, is adjacent to the pedicles and facet joints in the region of the foramina. (Web site)

Degenerative Changes

1. X-rays of the lower back may help to rule out degenerative changes in the facet joints or degenerative disc disease. (Web site)

Articular Processes

1. For instance, fractures may be seen in the articular processes or through the facet joints.

Adjacent Vertebrae

1. The 4 articular processes link with the articular processes of adjacent vertebrae to form the facet joints. (Web site)

Back

1. The alignment of the facet joints of the lumbar spine allows freedom of movement as you bend forward and back. (Web site)
2. Bending from the back, improper lifting, poor rest positions, and prolonged sitting in poorly designed chairs can all cause undo stress on the facet joints. (Web site)
3. The facet joints, ligaments, and soft tissues in the back of the neck and back must be strong.

Thoracic Spine

1. The alignment of the facet joints of the thoracic spine allows freedom of movement as you twist back and forth or lean side to side. (Web site)

Nerve Roots

1. The concave side will tend to have more compression of the facet joints and possibly the nerve roots.

Laminectomy

1. Sometimes the facet joints on the vertebrae are unstable after the Laminectomy.

Laminae

1. The trefoil shape of the spinal canal is anatomical variation of the spinal canal, caused by the orientation of the laminae and facet joints. (Web site)

Transverse Processes

1. It is composed of transverse processes, facet joints, two pedicles, two laminae, and a spinous process. (Web site)

Vertebra

1. In the lumbar spine, removing the lamina completely may cause problems with the stability of the facet joints between each vertebra.
2. The facet joints of the spine begin to support more of the force that is transmitted between each vertebra. (Web site)
3. There are two facet joints between each pair of vertebra, one on each side.

Facets

1. The facets are paired, flat areas of the vertebrae that form joints (facet joints) with the facets of the vertebrae above and below (see diagram). (Web site)

Discs

1. It is thought that injecting steroid medication into this space fights inflammation around the nerves, the discs, and the facet joints. (Web site)

Degeneration

1. This narrowing happens as a result of the degeneration of both the facet joints and the intervertebral discs. (Web site)
2. As the degeneration continues, bone spurs develop around the facet joints and around the disc. (Web site)
3. This type of slip is due to degeneration of the pair of facet joints between the two affected vertebrae.

Vertebral Bodies

1. A segment is two vertebral bodies and all the structures in between including the discs and the facet joints.

Spinal Column

1. The facet joints are located on the back of the spinal column. (Web site)
2. Aligned on the back of the spinal column, the facet joints link each vertebra together. (Web site)

Ligaments

1. Muscles and ligaments can strain, and discs and facet joints can be injured.
2. This can result in painful arthritis of the discs, facet joints, and ligaments. (Web site)
3. Fractures, torn ligaments, and disc problems can all cause abnormal movement and alignment, putting extra stress on the surfaces of the facet joints. (Web site)

Knee

1. Just like the hip and the knee, the facet joints can also become arthritic and painful, and they can be a source of back pain. (Web site)

Arthritis

1. Arthritis of the spine usually refers to a condition where there is inflammation of the facet joints between the vertebrae.
2. The main cause of spinal stenosis is arthritis, leading to a degeneration of the cartilage in the facet joints in the spine.
3. The bones and ligaments of the spinal facet joints can thicken and enlarge (because of arthritis) also pushing into the spinal canal. (Web site)

Joints

1. The spinal column also has real joints (just like the knee or elbow or any other joints) called facet joints.
2. Facet Joints The joints in the spinal column are located posterior to the vertebral body (on the backside). (Web site)
3. Like other joints in the body that are covered with articular cartilage, the lumbar facet joints can be affected by arthritis. (Web site)

Spine

1. The joints of the spine may be involved in systemic types of arthritis because the facet joints are made up of the same tissues as any other joint.
2. The facet joints on the back of the spine normally give enough stability, even when the lamina is taken off. (Web site)
3. There are two facet joints between each pair of vertebrae, one on each side of the spine. (Web site)

Categories

1. Intervertebral Discs
2. Vertebrae
3. Bone Spurs
4. Spine
5. Medicine > Anatomy > Organs > Joints

Related Keywords

* Bone Spurs * Intervertebral Disc * Intervertebral Discs * Vertebrae

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