====== Facet joint orientation ======

see also [[Facet joint tropism]]

{{rss>https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/rss/search/10guX6I3SqrfUddSIRMDaS3RQTLeY40NRQ3KPgbLnkvB8tZs-Q/?limit=15&utm_campaign=pubmed-2&fc=20230315073149}}

The orientation of facet joints varies depending on their location in the spine. In the cervical spine (neck), the facet joints are oriented horizontally, which allows for a greater range of motion in the neck. In the thoracic spine (mid-back), the facet joints are oriented vertically, which limits motion to protect the rib cage and internal organs. In the lumbar spine (lower back), the facet joints are again oriented horizontally, allowing for a greater range of motion than in the thoracic spine.

The orientation of facet joints can have implications for spinal health and function. For example, changes in the orientation of facet joints due to injury or degeneration can affect spinal stability and contribute to conditions such as spinal stenosis or spondylolisthesis.
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Sagittally oriented facet joints at lower lumbar levels could be associated with fattier erector spinae and psoas muscles at lower lumbar levels. The erector spinae at upper lumbar levels and psoas at lower lumbar levels might have become more active to compensate the FJT-induced instability at lower lumbar levels
((Özcan-Ekşi EE, Börekci A, Ekşi MŞ. Facet joint orientation/tropism could be associated with fatty infiltration in the lumbar paraspinal muscles. World Neurosurg. 2023 Feb 28:S1878-8750(23)00260-7. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2023.02.111. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36863453.)).