National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Practice Test

Entrapment of which of these tissues is most likely associated with facet syndrome?

1. Meniscoid

2. Articular cartilage

3. Muscle

4. Nerve root

The correct answer is: Meniscoid

Facet syndrome is primarily associated with the entrapment of the meniscoid tissue. Meniscoids are fibrocartilaginous structures located within the facet joints that can become pinched or entrapped due to abnormal movement or degeneration of the facet joints. This entrapment leads to pain and dysfunction in the upper and lower joints of the spine. In this context, the involvement of meniscoids is significant because dysfunction or inflammation in the facet joints often results in pain that is deeply localized and exacerbated during certain movements. In contrast, while articular cartilage, muscle, and nerve roots can also be involved in various spinal conditions, they do not specifically correlate with the characteristic entrapment scenario encountered in facet syndrome. Understanding this relationship helps practitioners recognize symptoms and devise appropriate treatment strategies aimed at relieving the entrapment and restoring normal joint function.