title: Innervation of cervical ventral facet joint capsule: Histological evidence.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the presence of nerves in ventral facet joint capsules as facet capsules are generally implicated in neck pain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four ventral cervical facet joint capsules were harvested from 3 unembalmed cadavers. Paraffin sections from these capsules were processed to identify neurofilament and substance P immunoreactive fibers. Nerve fiber presence was also verified by a silver impregnation method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Neurofilament reactive fibers were observed in sections from 9 capsules. They were observed in areas with collagen fibers and areas with irregular connective tissue. Substance P reactive nerve fibers were found in sections from 7 capsules in similar areas. Silver impregnation also revealed the presence of nerve fibers. The nerve fibers were also found as bundles in the lateral margins of the capsule. A Pacinian corpuscle-like ending was also observed in one specimen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve fibers revealed by neurofilament immunoreactivity and silver staining support innervation of the ventral aspect of the facet joint capsule. The presence of substance P reactive fibers supports the potential role of these elements in mediating pain. The presence of a Pacinian-like ending implicates a potential role in joint movement.
authors.affiliation: Srinivasu Kallakuri, Yan Li, Chaoyang Chen, John M Cavanaugh, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Wayne State University, 818 W Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, United States.
authors.forename: Srinivasu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kallakuri
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Chaoyang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Cavanaugh