American Journal of Roentgenology, Vol 154, 817-820, Copyright © 1990 by American Roentgen Ray Society
Age-related changes in the cervical facet joints: studies with cryomicrotomy, MR, and CT
G Fletcher, VM Haughton, KC Ho and SW Yu
Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, Milwaukee 53226.
The cervical facet joints of 20 cadavers were studied systematically with
MR, CT, cryomicrotomy, and histologic sections to determine the anatomic
changes that occur with age. Uniform layers of cartilage and subarticular
cortical bone characterize the cervical facet joints in cadavers under 20
years of age. Most adult cervical facet joints have only a discolored or
microscopically thin layer of cartilage and have irregularly thickened
subarticular cortical bone. The appearance of the cervical facet joints
changes significantly with aging.