Trunk (thorax, abdomen, back)
Articular cartilage of lumbar vertebrae (L1–L5)
Cartilagines articulares vertebrarum lumbalium
- Origin
- Hyaline cartilage on sagittal-oriented curved lumbar articular processes (L1–L5)
- Insertion
- Lumbar facet joint articulations
- Function
- Bears heavy compressive loads in lumbar extension and locks rotation to protect discs
- Innervation
- Avascular and aneural
- Movement & chain
- Sagittal plane sliding: gapping in flexion and compression in extension
- Palpation
- Not palpated directly
- Clinical
- Lumbar facet osteoarthritis contributing to spinal stenosis; degenerative spondylolisthesis.
- Segmental innervation
- L1–L5
- In clinical practice
- Core stabilization, flexion bias exercises, and manual unloading techniques
- Region in the model
- Trunk (thorax, abdomen, back)