What does Uncovertebral joint disease mean?

What does Uncovertebral joint disease mean?

Uncovertebral arthrosis is thought to be the result of dehydration/reduction of the intervertebral disc, leading to an increased load between the cervical vertebrae and hence the uncovertebral joints. It typically is seen in the lower cervical vertebrae due to the increased load at these levels.

What is a Zygapophyseal joint facet joint?

The facet joints, (or zygapophysial joints, zygapophyseal, apophyseal, or Z-joints) are a set of synovial, plane joints between the articular processes of two adjacent vertebrae. There are two facet joints in each spinal motion segment and each facet joint is innervated by the recurrent meningeal nerves.

What is Zygapophyseal joint pain?

Cervical and thoracic zygapophyseal joint arthropathy refers to degenerative changes in the facet joints (zygapophyseal joints, z-joints) of the spine which may result in facet-mediated head, neck, and back pain.

What makes up Uncovertebral joint?

The uncovertebral joints are the small articulations between the lateral parts of the vertebral bodies C3-C7. The articular surfaces that comprise each joint are covered with articular cartilage and they are formed by: The lateral part of the inferior aspect of the vertebrae C3-C6. …

When do Uncovertebral joints form?

Uncovertebral Joints This joint develops by age 10 and is comprised of a bony pillar (uncinate process) that grows upward and interfaces (meets) with an indentation in the above vertebra.

What makes the zygapophyseal joint?

Zygapophyseal joints are the only synovial joints in the spine, with hyaline cartilage overlying subchondral bone, a synovial membrane and a joint capsule; they comprise the postero-lateral articulation between vertebral levels (Figure 1). Each joint receives a dual nerve supply.

What does Zygapophyseal mean?

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 type of joint movement occurs with the Zygapophyseal joints?

Type Intervertebral disc joint: Cartilaginous joint; symphysis Zygapophyseal joint: Synovial plane joint, nonaxial, uniplanar
Blood supply Segmental arteries
Movements Flexion, extension, lateral flexion and axial rotation of the vertebral column

Where are Uncovertebral joints located?

cervical
An uncovertebral joint, also called Luschka’s joint, is located on each side of the four cervical discs between levels C3 and C7 in the spine. Uncovertebral joints are a common location for spinal degeneration and bone spur growth.

What does zygapophyseal joint arthropathy ( pm ) mean?

Cervical and thoracic zygapophyseal joint arthropathy refers to degenerative changes in the facet joints (zygapophyseal joints, z-joints) of the spine which may result in facet-mediated head, neck, and back pain.

What’s the distribution of pain in the C2 / 3 joint?

Dwyer et al. have described the distribution of referred pain for the C2/3 to C6/7 joints, while Dreyfuss et al. reported the patterns of referred pain from C0/1 and C1/2 in five normal volunteers.

Is the zygapophyseal joint a source of headache?

The cervical zygapophyseal joints have also been reported to be a significant source of cervicogenic headache ( Edmeads 1988; Busch and Wilson 1989; Bovim et al. 1992 ).

How are the joints of the cervical zygapophyseal stimulated?

Under fluoroscopic control, the zygapophyseal joints from C0/1 to C7/Th1 were stimulated by the injection of contrast medium and while electrical stimulation of the cervical zygapophyseal dorsal rami at segments C3 to C7 was performed during facet denervation.