U.C.L.A. Rheumatology Pathophysiology of Disease Course Lecture, Second Year Medical School 2005

      The fibrocartilaginous intervertebral discs form the articulations between two vertebrae. These are amphiarthroidial joints that work in concert with the facet joints and diarthrodial joints, to act as a unit. Each unit allows for only a small amount of movement, but taken as a whole, the sum of the movement from all the vertebral units makes the extraordinary mobility of the human spine possible.
      As we approach the intervertebral space the vertebrae are separated, revealing the hyaline cartilage of the facet joint.