facio-, faci-, face-
(Latin: face, pertaining to the face; countenance; form, make, set in place, do)
2. A small, flat surface on a jewel or the many-sided areas of some gemstones: Some jewelry have facets cut into them in order to improve their appearances by allowing them to reflect more light.
3. Etymology: from French facette, "small face" or "little face".
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Each vertebra has two sets of facet joints in which one pair faces upward (superior articular facets) and one pair faces downward (inferior articular facets).
Facet joints are synovial in that each joint is surrounded by a capsule of connective tissue which produces a fluid to lubricate all of them so they can move or slide (articulate) with each other.
A mobile X-ray unit is used to determine the optimal localization for the coagulation needle in the facet-joint coagulation procedure.
During the treatment of the facet-joint coagulation, the selected nerve is destroyed by heat that lasts for a few seconds; but because of the anesthesia, it should not be felt by the patient.
Also interpreted as, "Check the mirror, not the calendar."
The lumbar facet joints are subjected to continuous stresses throughout life and by degeneration, reactive remodeling, and hypertrophy (enlargement); all of which can affect the joints.
2. On the face of it; so far as can be judged from the first disclosure; a fact presumed to be true unless proven by some evidence to the contrary: The chief counsel at court indicated that there was prima facie evidence that Sam, the witness, committed perjury during his testimony.