Regional differences in zygapophysial joint cavities: A histological study of human fetuses

Human zygapophysial joints (ZJ) have regional differences in shape and orientation during prenatal growth. However, there is limited knowledge of the synovial recess during fetal development. We examined sagittal and horizontal histological sections of the vertebral columns of 30 human fetuses at gestational ages of 8–37 weeks. Fetuses of all gestational ages had subaxial cervical articular processes that were thicker than in the thoracolumbar regions, and as large as the corresponding vertebral bodies. A small or large synovial recess extending beyond the articular cartilage was evident at most regions. The cervical ZJ had large or deep recesses that extended inferiorly in midterm fetuses and posteromedially along the vertebral pedicle and lamina in near-term fetuses. Likewise, the thoracic ZJ had small recesses that extended superiorly in midterm fetuses and medially in near-term fetuses. The lumbar recesses extended laterally beyond the medially shifted articular cartilage of the upper adjacent vertebrae in near-term fetuses and the lumbar articular surface was smallest in the three regions at all stages. At any region, a deep recess appeared before an area expansion of the ZJ cartilage. A drastic change in direction and size of the prenatal recess seemed to occur depending on a possible minute dislocation of the ZJ. In particular, a deep posteromedial recess of the cervical ZJ, which extended far beyond the articular cartilage, might be necessary to maintain high flexibility suitable for the strong flexion posture in utero.