Anatomic Study of the Morphology of Human Cervical Facet Joint

Yoganandan, Narayan; Knowles, Stephanie; Maiman, Dennis J.; Pintar, Frank A.

doi:10.1097/01.brs.0000085356.89103.a5

Cited by 108 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Further, reports have found that the bony extremity of the pillars is not always completely covered by a cartilage layer, leaving a region of exposed subchondral bone at the outermost edges of the bony pillar [19,41]. Yoganandan et al [19] reported the gap of exposed subchondral bone to be nearly three times wider in the upper region of the cervical spine than in the lower cervical spine, especially in the posterior and anterior regions of the facet articulating surfaces. The cartilage layer may be thinner in these regions because of the presence of synovial folds and meniscoids, which also provide additional protection from compressive and shear loads across the joint (see Sec.…”

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An avascular layer of hyaline cartilage, with varying thickness across spinal regions and the genders, covers the articulating surfaces of each facet [19,40]. The cartilage is thinner at the edges of the opposing surfaces and gradually increases to its thickest ($1 mm) towards the center of the articulating joint, in both the antero-posterior and medio-lateral regions of the joint [41].…”

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This not only presents the possibility for direct trauma to the bone but has also been hypothesized to lead to pain in some cases [42]. The gap in cartilage coverage is greater in females [19], which may play a role in the greater susceptibility of women to suffer neck traumas [43,44].…”

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cartilage layer may be thinner in these regions because of the presence of synovial folds and meniscoids, which also provide additional protection from compressive and shear loads across the joint (see Sec. 2.1 for more details) [19]. However, subchondral bone can be exposed to mechanical compression during some loading scenarios.…”

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Spinal Facet Joint Biomechanics and Mechanotransduction in Normal, Injury and Degenerative Conditions

Jaumard¹,

Welch²,

Winkelstein³

2011

J. Biomech. Eng.

270

225

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The facet joint is a crucial anatomic region of the spine owing to its biomechanical role in facilitating articulation of the vertebrae of the spinal column. It is a diarthrodial joint with opposing articular cartilage surfaces that provide a low friction environment and a ligamentous capsule that encloses the joint space. Together with the disc, the bilateral facet joints transfer loads and guide and constrain motions in the spine due to their geometry and mechanical function. Although a great deal of research has focused on defining the biomechanics of the spine and the form and function of the disc, the facet joint has only recently become the focus of experimental, computational and clinical studies. This mechanical behavior ensures the normal health and function of the spine during physiologic loading but can also lead to its dysfunction when the tissues of the facet joint are altered either by injury, degeneration or as a result of surgical modification of the spine. The anatomical, biomechanical and physiological characteristics of the facet joints in the cervical and lumbar spines have become the focus of increased attention recently with the advent of surgical procedures of the spine, such as disc repair and replacement, which may impact facet responses. Accordingly, this review summarizes the relevant anatomy and biomechanics of the facet joint and the individual tissues that comprise it. In order to better understand the physiological implications of tissue loading in all conditions, a review of mechanotransduction pathways in the cartilage, ligament and bone is also presented ranging from the tissue-level scale to cellular modifications. With this context, experimental studies are summarized as they relate to the most common modifications that alter the biomechanics and health of the spine-injury and degeneration. In addition, many computational and finite element models have been developed that enable more-detailed and specific investigations of the facet joint and its tissues than are provided by experimental approaches and also that expand their utility for the field of biomechanics. These are also reviewed to provide a more complete summary of the current knowledge of facet joint mechanics. Overall, the goal of this review is to present a comprehensive review of the breadth and depth of knowledge regarding the mechanical and adaptive responses of the facet joint and its tissues across a variety of relevant size scales.

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Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Cartilaginous Articularmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Spinal Facet Joint Biomechanics and Mechanotransduction in Normal, Injury and Degenerative Conditions

Jaumard¹,

Welch²,

Winkelstein³

2011

J. Biomech. Eng.

270

225

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1,3,6,17) However, few studies have considered the cervical facet joint. 10,16,23) The mechanism underlying the formation of a hypertrophic synovial mass remains to be elucidated. The present and previous cases of hypertrophic synovial mass arose from a facet manifesting degenerative changes, and the histological diagnoses were proliferated fibrous connective tissue that appeared to be formed by mechanical stress between the articular surfaces.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hypertrophic Synovial Mass Resulting in C8 Radiculopathy -Case Report-

Sasamori

Isu

Morimoto

et al. 2010

Neurol. Med. Chir.(Tokyo)

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A 58-year-old man presented with a hypertrophic synovial mass manifesting as left C8 radiculopathy. Computed tomography revealed hypertrophic changes in the left C7-T1 facet joint and widening of the interarticular space. Magnetic resonance imaging showed left C7-T1 foraminal stenosis attributable to a periarticular mass enhanced with gadolinium. Decompression surgery of the left C8 nerve root was performed. During left C7-T1 facetectomy we detected inflamed soft tissue occupying the interarticular space with extension toward the intervertebral foramen. The mass markedly compressed the left C8 nerve root and was gross totally removed. The histological diagnosis was proliferated fibrous connective tissue compatible with hypertrophic synovial tissue. Postoperatively, his neurological condition improved remarkably. The surgical and pathological findings in our patient indicate that this clinical condition is important in the differential diagnosis in adult patients presenting with cervical radiculopathy.

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Measurement of the Vertebral Canal Dimensions of the Neck of the Rat with a Comparison to the Human

Flynn

Bolton

2007

The Anatomical Record

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The aim of this study was to determine the dimensions of the vertebral canal in the neck of the rat, because little is known about the morphology of the rat's cervical spine. A comparison then was made to the vertebral canal in the neck of the human. In part 1 of this study, we determined the precision of three different methods to measure the vertebral canal. The error (coefficient of variation) in these methods was found to range from 1 to 8%. In part 2, we used a computer-based system to measure digital images of the vertebra and determined the anterior to posterior and the transverse vertebral canal dimensions in the neck of 19 young adult Sprague-Dawley rats. The anterior to posterior dimension of the vertebral canal was greatest at the upper cervical (C1-C2) level and progressively decreased in the more caudal segments (C3-T1). The transverse dimension was greatest at the atlas (C1) vertebra and smallest at the axis (C2) vertebra with a steady increase in the transverse dimension with more caudal segments and a maximum transverse dimension at the level of the C6 and C7 vertebra. This study has demonstrated that the vertebral canal in the neck of young adult rats is similar in some regards to that of human. However, there are clear differences between the rat and human. These may be associated with differences in the morphology of the spinal cord or postural differences such as the cervicothoracic lordosis in bipeds compared with that in quadrupeds. Anat Rec, 290: 893-899, 2007Rec, 290: 893-899, . 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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Anatomic Study of the Morphology of Human Cervical Facet Joint

Cited by 108 publications

References 24 publications

Spinal Facet Joint Biomechanics and Mechanotransduction in Normal, Injury and Degenerative Conditions

Spinal Facet Joint Biomechanics and Mechanotransduction in Normal, Injury and Degenerative Conditions

Hypertrophic Synovial Mass Resulting in C8 Radiculopathy -Case Report-

Measurement of the Vertebral Canal Dimensions of the Neck of the Rat with a Comparison to the Human

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