| Bone: Articular processes | |
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| A cervical vertebra. (Superior and inferior processes labeled at right.) | |
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| A thoracic vertebra. (Superior labeled at top; inferior labeled at bottom.) | |
| Latin | p. articularis inferior vertebrae, p. articularis superior vertebrae, |
| Gray's | subject #20 97 |
The articular processes or zygapophyses (Greek ζυγον = "yoke" (because it links two vertebrae) + απο = "away" + φυσις = "process") of a vertebra, two superior and two inferior, spring from the junctions of the pedicles and laminæ. These stick out of an end of a vertebra to lock with a zygapophysis on the next vertebra, to make the backbone more stable.
- The superior processes project upward from a lower vertebra, and their articular surfaces are directed more or less backward.
- The inferior processes project downward from a higher vertebra, and their articular surfaces are directed more or less forward and outward.
The articular surfaces are coated with hyaline cartilage.
See also
Additional images
 Cervical vertebra |
 Median sagittal section of two lumbar vertebræ and their ligaments. |
External links
Bioweb at UWLAX aplab- Atlas of anatomy at UMich back_bone28 - "Lumbar Vertebral Column, Posterolateral View"
- SUNY Figs 02:01-09 - "Superior and lateral views of typical vertebrae."
- articular+process at eMedicine Dictionary
- Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton2/inferiorarticularprocess
- Photo of model at Waynesburg College skeleton2/superiorarticularprocess
This article was originally based on an entry from a public domain edition of Gray's Anatomy. As such, some of the information contained herein may be outdated.
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