The transverse and spinous processes serve as important muscle attachment sites. A superior articular process extends or faces upward, and an inferior articular process faces or projects downward on each side of a vertebrae.
What is the function of the superior articular process?
The functional significance of the articular processes is obviously to limit rotation, which can take place in the lumbar segment of the vertebral column during any asymmetrical movement of the body.
What is the purpose of the superior inferior articular facets?
The facet joints, both superior and inferior, are aligned in a way to allow flexion and extension, and to limit rotation. This is especially true in the lumbar spine.
What is the inferior articular process?
: a process of a vertebra that lies on each side of the neural arch and projects downward and articulates with a superior articular process of the next more caudal vertebra The inferior articular processes have vertical convex articular facets which face anterolaterally. — Gray’s Anatomy, 39th edition, 2005.
Which joints are found between the superior and inferior articular processes?
The joints of the vertebral arches are the zygapophysial joints (often called facet joints). These articulations are plane synovial joints between the superior and the inferior articular processes (zygapophyses) of adjacent vertebrae.
What does the inferior articular facet articulate with?
Inferior articular facet (Facies articularis inferior) is a flattened surface on the inferior lateral mass tht articulates with the superior articular facet on the axis vertebra (C2).
CONTINUE READING BELOW
What does the inferior articular facet of L5 articulate with?
One notable feature of L5 is that its inferior articular facets do not articulate with a sequential and inferior vertebra, they join to the sacrum. We thus call these facets on L5 the sacral articulation facets (Figure 1).
What is the difference between the articular process and the articular facet?
The articular processes or zygapophyses (Greek ζυγον = “yoke” (because it links two vertebrae) + απο = “away” + φυσις = “process“) of a vertebra are projections of the vertebra that serve the purpose of fitting with an adjacent vertebra. The actual region of contact is called the articular facet.
What’s the difference between articular facet and process?
On each side of the vertebral arch of each lumbar vertebra there is an inferior and a superior articular process. The inferior (lower) articular processes of one vertebra form a zygapophyseal joint (facet joint) with the superior (upper) articular processes of the vertebra below it to connect the two vertebrae.
What are the four articular processes?
Four articular processes originate from the joint between the pedicles and laminae, two point superiorly and two point inferiorly. They interact with the zyhapophysis, a socket for the articular processes, of the adjacent vertebrae to make the spine more stable and to facilitate a small degree of articulation.
Why is there a size difference between the most superior and most inferior vertebrae what function would this difference serve?
There is a size difference between the most superior and inferior vertebrae because the inferior vertebrae need to support more weight.
What does articular process mean?
Medical Definition of articular process
: either of two processes on each side of a vertebra that articulate with adjoining vertebrae: a : superior articular process. b : inferior articular process.
What is the major function of the intervertebral discs?
The inter- vertebral disc serves primarily to allow movement between adjacent vertebral bodies, to absorb shock, and to transmit loads through the vertebral column. The complex morphology and structure of the intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine reflects these functions.
What is the difference between superior articular process and superior articular facet?
The superior articular processes project vertically upward from the articular pillars between the pedicles and the laminae. The concave facet of each superior articular process faces dorsomedially to the inferior articular facets of the vertebra above it (Fig. 3-21).
What is superior articular surface?
The superior articular surface (superior facet)s are of large size, oval, concave, and approach each other in front, but diverge behind: they are directed upward, medialward, and a little backward, each forming a cup for the corresponding condyle of the occipital bone, and are admirably adapted to the nodding movements …
What is the functional reason for bigger and stronger lumbar vertebrae?
There are 5 lumbar vertebrae (denoted as L1-L5) found in adult humans, and they are situated beneath the thoracic vertebrae, They are the largest, in terms of size, out of all the vertebrae because the lumbar vertebrae must be able to support the weight of the body when a person is standing due to the effects of …
What does the superior costal facet articulate with?
A rib articulates at the junction of the vertebral body and pedicle (superior costal facet) of its named vertebra and the vertebra above (inferior costal facet). The rib also articulates with the transverse costal facet of the transverse process of its named vertebra.
What bone feature does the superior articular process of a vertebra articulate with?
The superior articular processes face upward and are deeply curved for articulation with the occipital condyles on the base of the skull. The inferior articular processes are flat and face downward to join with the superior articular processes of the C2 vertebra.
What is the most superior bone of the vertebral column?
The cervical vertebrae are the smallest and most superior of the vertebrae. The most superior of these vertebrae articulate with the skull. The thoracic vertebrae are matched to each pair of ribs to form the rib cage and establish the thoracic cavity.
What is superior to the lumbar region?
Found along the body’s midline in the lumbar (lower back) region, the lumbar vertebrae make up the region of the spine inferior to the thoracic vertebrae in the thorax and superior to the sacrum and coccyx in the pelvis.
What is L4 and L5?
The L4 and L5 are the two lowest vertebrae of the lumbar spine. Together with the intervertebral disc, joints, nerves, and soft tissues, the L4-L5 spinal motion segment provides a variety of functions, including supporting the upper body and allowing trunk motion in multiple directions.
When the vertebrae are articulated they form the superior and inferior boundaries of the?
When two vertebrae articulate with one another, they form three intervertebral joints. The inferior articular processes of the superior vertebra form two joints via articulation with the two superior articular processes of the inferior vertebra (Bogduk, 2005).
What does articular facet mean?
Articular facet. a relatively small articular surface of a bone, especially a vertebra.
What is the inferior opening of the sacrum?
Sacral hiatus (hiatus sacralis) is a U-shaped opening at the inferior end of the sacral canal that is bordered laterally by the two sacral cornua. It results when the two opposing lamina of the 5th sacral vertebrae do not fuse.
How does the structure and function of C1 and C2 differ from that of other vertebrae?
The C1 vertebra, also called atlas, is shaped like a ring. The C2 vertebra has an upward-facing long bony process called the dens. The dens forms a joint with the C1 vertebra and facilitates its turning motions, thereby allowing the head to turn in different directions.
What is the purpose of facet joints?
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.
What are the functions of vertebral and intervertebral foramina?
function in vertebral column
arch surround an opening, the vertebral foramen, through which the spinal cord passes. The centrums are separated by cartilaginous intervertebral disks, which help cushion shock in locomotion.
Where are the articular processes?
Normal Anatomy
The articular processes’ synovial intervertebral articulation complex is located dorsal to the vertebral canal and is composed of the caudal articular process of one vertebra, the joint space, and the cranial articular process of the following vertebra (Figures 52-12 through 52-14).
What is the function of spinous process?
Spinous process is a bony projection off the posterior (back) of each vertebra. The spinous process protrudes where the laminae of the vertebral arch join and provides the point of attachment for muscles and ligaments of the spine.
How do the superior and inferior articular processes of the atlas differ from the same processes on a typical vertebra?
A superior articular process extends or faces upward, and an inferior articular process faces or projects downward on each side of a vertebrae. The paired superior articular processes of one vertebra join with the corresponding paired inferior articular processes from the next higher vertebra.
Which is the inferior most component of the vertebral column?
For example, the most superior cervical vertebrae is termed C1 and the most inferior C7, which is then followed by the T1 vertebrae of the thoracic region. The two lower most regions of vertebrae are the sacrum and the coccyx.
Which vertebrae is most inferior?
The most inferior region of the vertebral column is the b. coccyx.
What is inferior vertebral notch?
Inferior vertebral notch are the concavities on the inferior aspect of the pedicle. When the vertebrae are articulated, the inferior and superior notches of each contiguous pair of bones form the intervertebral foramina.
What does articular mean?
Definition of articular
: of or relating to a joint articular cartilage.
What does articular surface mean?
A joint or articulation (or articular surface) is the connection made between bones in the body which link the skeletal system into a functional whole. They are constructed to allow for different degrees and types of movement.
What is the function of the intervertebral discs quizlet?
What is the function of the intervertebral discs? The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers and provide flexibility to the spine, allowing it to flex and extend.
What is the purpose of the intervertebral discs Nasm?
An intervertebral disc (or intervertebral fibrocartilage) lies between adjacent vertebrae in the vertebral column. Each disc forms a fibrocartilaginous joint (a symphysis), to allow slight movement of the vertebrae, and acts as a ligament to hold the vertebrae together.
What is lumbosacral intervertebral disc?
The intervertebral discs provide cushioning between vertebrae and absorb pressure put on the spine. While the discs in the lower (lumbar ) region of the spine are most often affected in intervertebral disc disease, any part of the spine can have disc degeneration.
What type of synovial joint is between articular processes of vertebrae?
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.
What is the function of the superior articular process?
The functional significance of the articular processes is obviously to limit rotation, which can take place in the lumbar segment of the vertebral column during any asymmetrical movement of the body.
What is inferior articular surface?
Anatomical Parts
The inferior articular surfaces (inferior articular facets) are circular in form, flattened or slightly convex and directed downward and medialward, articulating with the axis, and permitting the rotatory movements of the head.
Where is the inferior articular surface?
Anatomical Parts
The inferior articular surface is quadrilateral, and smooth for articulation with the talus. It is concave from before backward, broader in front than behind, and traversed from before backward by a slight elevation, separating two depressions. It is continuous with that on the medial malleolus.