What is a superior Demifacet?
A demifacet is actually half of a facet and is where part of the head of the rib or part of the costal cartilage articulates and these are usually found on ribs 2 through 9. The superior demifacet of the body of the vertebra receives the head of the rib with the same number as the vertebra of interest.
What do the superior and inferior costal facets do?
The superior and inferior articular facets articulate in a plane that slopes sharply downward posteriorly. The overlapping spines, relatively thin intervertebral discs and splinting effect of the ribs result in a smaller overall range of movement in the thoracic region than in the cervical region.
What is superior and inferior to the vertebral body?
From superior to inferior, these are: Cervical: 7 vertebrae (C1 = highest; C7 = lowest) Thoracic: 12 vertebrae (T1 = highest; T12 = lowest) Lumbar: 5 vertebrae (L1 = highest; L5 = lowest) Sacral: 5 fused vertebrae (S1 = highest; S5 = lowest)
What is the difference between Demifacet and costal facet?
Costal facets or demifacets are found on the bodies of the vertebrae. The distinction between facet and demifacet (half a facet) rests upon whether the head of the rib articulates on only one body (facet) or overlaps two (demifacet).
What is a Demifacet?
Demifacet — Within the context of thoracic vertebrae, the head of a rib is joined to two thoracic vertebrae via costal demifacets; half of the facet is on the superior vertebra and half of the facet is on the inferior vertebra. The demifacet may be semilunar or semicircular.
What articulates with the inferior costal Demifacet?
The inferior demifacet articulates with the rib below. For example, the superior demifacet and costal facet on the transverse process of T5 will articulate with the fifth rib. The inferior demifacet of T5 will articulate with the sixth rib.
What do the costal facets do?
The superior costal facet joins the rib to the top of a vertebra. The transverse costal facet joins the rib to the transverse process of a vertebra, and the inferior costal facet joins the rib to the lower part of the vertebra. The joints formed are known as the costovertebral joints.
What does the superior articular facet do?
The superior articular facet faces upward and works like a hinge with the inferior articular facet (below). Like other joints in the body, each facet joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue and produces synovial fluid to nourish and lubricate the joint.
Which joints are found between the superior and inferior articular processes?
Description. 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 articulates with the Demifacet?
vertebral bodies
The demifacets articulate with the vertebral bodies. At the vertebrae above the articulation, this articulation is lateral and at the root of the pedicle.
What does the superior articular facet articulate with?
Superior articular facet (Facies articularis superior) is an oval-shaped, concave structure on the superior aspect of the lateral mass. It articulates with an occipital condyle on the underside skull.
What does the inferior demifacet articulate with?
The inferior demifacet articulates with the rib below. For example, the superior demifacet and costal facet on the transverse process of T5 will articulate with the fifth rib. The inferior demifacet of T5 will articulate with the sixth rib.
What is the difference between superior and inferior facets?
They consist of cartilage lined depressions, which articulate with the heads of the ribs. The superior facet articulates with the head of the adjacent rib, and the inferior facet articulates with the head of the rib below In the majority of the vertebrae (T2-T9) these facets are demi-facets.
Is the superior costal facet a demifacet?
The superior costal facet is a demifacet or partial facet. It aligns with the inferior costal facet on the vertebra above to form a complete facet for articulation with the head of a rib.
What is the superior demifacet of the vertebrae?
The superior demifacet of the body of the vertebra receives the head of the rib with the same number as the vertebra of interest. For example, rib 5 articulates with thoracic vertebra 5 at its superior demifacet.