Facet joint

 

 

The facets are the part of the vertebral body that form the joints that attach to the facets of the vertebral bodies above and below it.  For example: The two (right and left) superior facets of the L3 (3rd lumbar) vertebral body attach to the inferior facets of L2.   L3 inferior facets attach to L4 superior facets.  Where they attach, the facet bones have a lining of cartilage lubricated by a thin layer of fluid (synovial fluid) at the “facet joints”. 

Cervical

Thoracic

Lumbar

Facectectomy: removal of the lumbar facet as part of a lumbar decompression procedure.  

 

Spine surgery Specialty Center

 

 
Facet joints on a model of the spine viewed from the back and side (posterolateral).  On right red arrows point to facet joints (green dots on pars interarticularis).

 
Cartoon of superior and inferior facets of a vertebral body.

 

Return to uscneurosurgery.com Homepage